title: Influence of gender and anaesthesia type on day surgery anxiety.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the possible influence of gender and anaesthesia type on anxiety prior to day surgery.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Elective surgery undertaken on a day, short stay or 'day of surgery' basis is growing and much emphasis also placed on 'enhanced recovery' for in-patient surgery. During such brief episodes preoperative apprehension can be considerable but the opportunity to help reduce anxiety is minimal and formal plans uncommon.
  
  
  METHODS
  As part of a larger study, a questionnaire was distributed to 1606 patients undergoing day surgery, with anaesthesia (2005-2007). Participants were requested to return the questionnaire by mail 24-48 hours following surgery, with 674 returned. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and multivariate analysis of variance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the total patients 82·4% experienced anxiety on the day of surgery with the wait, anaesthesia and possible pain being common anxiety-provoking aspects. The majority preferred to receive information between 1-4 weeks in advance and participants experiencing general anaesthesia required information at a statistically significantly earlier stage. General anaesthesia patients were statistically significantly more anxious than local anaesthesia patients and desired more information. Female patients were statistically significantly more anxious, anxiety commenced earlier and they preferred to wait with a relative/friend or talk with other patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Anxiety was experienced by the majority of participants but was more prevalent amongst general anaesthesia and female patients. For general anaesthesia patients, a comprehensive level of information may be required a number of weeks prior to surgery and gender differences associated with the preoperative wait may require greater consideration.
authors.affiliation: Mark Mitchell MSc PhD RN Senior Lecturer College of Health and Social Care, University of Salford, Greater Manchester, UK. m.mitchell@salford.ac.uk
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mitchell
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures / Q000523:psychology*; D000768:Anesthesia, General / Q000523:psychology*; D000772:Anesthesia, Local / Q000523:psychology; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D057240:Patient Preference / Q000523:psychology; D057234:Preoperative Period; D017678:Sex Distribution; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult