Assessing Preoperative Fear of COVID-19 in Patients: A Descriptive-Cross-Sectional Study

Authors : Adile Nur Arıkan, Sevilay Erden

Pages : 28-36

View : 56 | Download : 37

Publication Date : 2024-12-25

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :This study aimed to determine patients\\\' fear of COVID-19 before surgery through a descriptive-cross-sectional design. This study was carried out with 281 patients in the surgical clinics of a public hospital between November 2021 and May 2022. The data were collected using the Patient Descriptive Information Form and the COVID-19 Fear Scale. The mean total score on the COVID-19 Fear Scale for patients was 23.43±4.88. Patients who were unemployed, had chronic diseases, or underwent major surgery exhibited higher mean total scores (p<.05). Additionally, individuals vaccinated against COVID-19 and those concerned about transmission had significantly higher scale mean total scores (p<.05). According to our study findings, the majority of patients demonstrated elevated levels of fear regarding COVID-19. Various factors, including diagnosis, disease process, type of surgery, patient characteristics, and negative social media posts, were identified as potential contributors to heightened COVID-19 fear, potentially impacting both patient psychological states and clinical outcomes. In this context, coping methods should be thoroughly evaluated and supported during the preoperative period, considering the sources of COVID-19 fear and individual patient characteristics.
Keywords : COVID-19, Ameliyat Öncesi, COVID-19, Hasta, Hemşirelik, Korku