title: Use of a numeric visual analog anxiety scale among patients undergoing colorectal surgery.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of a Numeric Visual Analog Anxiety Scale (NVAAS) as a potentially accurate and efficient way to determine presurgery anxiety among patients undergoing colorectal surgery. A secondary aim was to determine the relationship between NVAAS ratings of anxiety and postsurgery pain. Thirty-six patients scheduled for colorectal surgery were asked to rate their state anxiety on the NVAAS and to complete the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). The NVAAS correlated significantly with STAI-state anxiety (0.64, p <.0001). The NVAAS measure of presurgery anxiety also correlated significantly with STAI-trait anxiety (0.46, p <.005) and postsurgery Visual Analog Scale pain ratings (0.35, p <.038). The NVAAS appears to be a valid and sensitive measure of anxiety among patients undergoing colorectal surgery. The NVAAS also has the advantage of being convenient and easy to use at bedside, increasing its clinical utility in medical nursing care.
authors.affiliation: Texas A&M University, Scott and White Clinic Hospital, USA.
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Elkins
authors.forename: Ray
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Staniunas
authors.forename: M Hasan
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Rajab
authors.forename: Joel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Marcus
authors.forename: Todd
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Snyder
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003107:Colorectal Surgery / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000592:standards*; D011594:Psychometrics; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric