title: Anxiety and Stress Levels on Liver Transplantation Candidates.
abstract: The objective of the present study was to determine the anxiety and stress levels of liver transplant candidates during the preoperative period. A cross-sectional, prospective study was conducted on 52 liver transplantation candidates seen at a specialized public hospital outpatient clinic in the interior of the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Data were collected from November 2014 to April 2015 using a self-applicable questionnaire for the assessment of anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, short version) and stress (Perceived Stress Scale), in addition to sociodemographic and clinic characterization. The mean (±SD) anxiety level detected was 23.06 ± 5.51 points, with 1.92% of the subjects showing minimum levels (0 to 12 points), 59.62% a medium level (12 to 24 points), 36.54% a moderate level (24 to 36 points), and 1.92% a severe level (36 to 48 points) of anxiety. The mean level on the stress scale was 12.10 ± 5.62 points, with 7.69% of the subjects showing high stress levels. When individuals with good and poor stress levels were compared, a significant difference was observed between them (P = .0004). The Spearman correlation test showed that the higher the stress, the higher the levels of anxiety (r = 0.4258), P < .0001. The present study contributes to the analysis of the mental health of liver transplantation candidates in view of the need for interventions for the improvement of anxiety and stress levels since the waiting period for the organ generates emotional changes that can affect the quality of life of the patient and the success of this complex therapeutic modality.
authors.affiliation: General and Specialized Nursing Department, University of São Paulo at Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: H R S
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Teixeira
authors.affiliation: General and Specialized Nursing Department, University of São Paulo at Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Marques
authors.affiliation: Special Liver Transplantation Unit, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: A R F
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.affiliation: Special Liver Transplantation Unit, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Ziviani
authors.affiliation: General and Specialized Nursing Department, University of São Paulo at Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: J T J
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Magro
authors.affiliation: Special Liver Transplantation Unit, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ênio D
authors.initials: ÊD
authors.lastname: Mente
authors.affiliation: Special Liver Transplantation Unit, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Castro-E-Silva
authors.affiliation: General and Specialized Nursing Department, University of São Paulo at Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Galvão
authors.affiliation: General and Specialized Nursing Department, University of São Paulo at Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: dalsasso@eerp.usp.br.
authors.forename: K D S
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Mendes
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology*; D001938:Brazil; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery; D008104:Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D057234:Preoperative Period; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014850:Waiting Lists; D055815:Young Adult