Pre-Operative Anxiety Assessment among Patients Undergoing Craniotomy Procedure

Pre-Operative Anxiety Assessment Undergoing Craniotomy Procedure

Abstract

Patients undergoing craniotomy surgery often develop preoperative anxiety, a severe psychological issue that affects both the surgical experience and after healing. This worry is made worse by the intrusive nature of the procedure, which involves opening the skull and adjusting the brain. Objectives: To determine the prevalence and severity of preoperative anxiety in patients having craniotomies and to look into how it relates to certain clinical and demographic characteristics. Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional research was conducted in the neurosurgery wards of Khyber Teaching Hospital and Hayat Abad Medical Complex in Peshawar. 160 individuals undergoing craniotomies were selected based on predefined criteria. Preoperative anxiety was measured using the 15-item Likert-scale-based Surgical Anxiety Questionnaire. Results: Patients reported a considerable prevalence of moderate to severe preoperative anxiety across all questionnaire domains. Anticipated postoperative pain (83.8%), loss of control over the procedure or Anesthesia (88.1%), danger of hospital-acquired infection (91.9%), failure to awaken from Anesthesia (91.9%), and financial load (86.9%) were the most common concerns. Fear of not fully recovering at release (83.1%), finding new health issues (80%), and receiving injections or vascular access (78.1%) were other significant concerns. Concerns regarding wound-related problems (73.7%), intraoperative awareness (71.9%), inadequate postoperative social support (78.1%), and medical errors (71.9%) were also mentioned. 66.2% of patients reported feeling uncertain about going back to their regular lives. Conclusions: Patients undergoing craniotomies frequently experience preoperative anxiety. To enhance patient care and results, early detection and psychological interventions are crucial.