Anxiety as a predictor of pain magnitude following termination of first-trimester pregnancy.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the study was to investigate anxiety and other factors that may predict pain magnitude following termination of pregnancy (TOP) during the first trimester.


METHODS
Prospective, nonrandomized study.


METHODS
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Rambam Medical Center in Haifa, Israel.


METHODS
Forty consecutive women undergoing TOP.


METHODS
Women undergoing a TOP were asked to fill out the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Pain magnitude was measured by using a visual analog scale (VAS) at 15, 30, and 60 minutes following the procedure. Correlations between state anxiety, trait anxiety, age, parity, number of TOP, gestational age, and pain magnitude were measured.


RESULTS
State anxiety was able to predict pain magnitude on VAS 15 minutes after TOP (P = 0.023), and trait anxiety was able to predict pain magnitude on VAS 30 minutes after TOP (P = 0.013). Other variables failed to show significant results.


CONCLUSIONS
Preoperative assessment of anxiety levels may lead to appropriate treatment in order to alleviate discomfort and ensure pain control outcome.
Pud
Dorit
D
Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Studies, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel. doritpud@research.haifa.ac.il
Amit
Amnon
A
D000032:Abortion, Therapeutic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index