Pre-operation and post-operation anxiety in cesarean candidates

Introduction: Women undergoing cesarean section may have some difficulties in self-care and the care of their baby due to post-operative pain as well. If anxiety-inducing factors in the mother are not controlled or treated, they can cause dangerous complications before and after cesarean section. This study aimed to investigate the level of anxiety before and after surgery in the candidates for cesarean section in the hospital. 

Methods: In the present descriptive-analytical and cross-sectional epidemiological study, 60 women admitted to the gynecology department of Abadan University of Medical Sciences for elective cesarean section entered the study. Data were collected by Hamilton Anxiety Questionnaire and Demographic Specification Questionnaire. Patients completed the anxiety questionnaire 2-3 hours before entering the operating room and 2-3 hours after the operation. Chi-square tests and t-tests were used to analyze the data in SPSS v.22 . 

Results: The mean pre-operative anxiety was 9.95 ±7.99, which reached 1.2 ±0.9 after surgery. The mean scores of women’s anxiety before and after surgery were significantly different (P <0.05). Before the operation, 45 (75%) had mild anxiety and 15(25%) had moderate anxiety. The different dimensions of the Hamilton Anxiety Questionnaire surgery were significantly different before and after (P <0.05). Hamilton’s Anxiety Questionnaire score did not show significant correlation with employment status but there was a significant positive relationship with age (P <0.05). 

Conclusion: The majority of participants had mild anxiety, possibly due to a history of cesarean section. Therefore, it is recommended that nurses consider these safe, non-invasive, cost-effective selfcare techniques along with medication.