Perioperative Anxiety in Adult Surgical Patients: Identifying the Common Causes and Nursing Interventions for Anxiety Reduction
Saludes, Patrick Ralph; Sardan, Ericson (2025)
2025
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025090524467
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025090524467
Tiivistelmä
The purpose of this thesis was to explore the common causes of perioperative anxiety in adult surgical patients and examine the role and interventions used by perioperative nurses to reduce this anxiety. The study aimed to generate new knowledge that could be utilized by nurses in perioperative settings to improve the care and psychological well-being of surgical patients. A qualitative descriptive design was employed. Data were collected using reputable databases such CINAHL and PubMed. Specific inclusion and exclusion criteria guided the selection process, resulting in fourteen relevant articles. These articles were analyzed using thematic content analysis.
This study addressed two primary themes: the common causes of perioperative anxiety in adult surgical patients and the interventions used by perioperative nurses to alleviate such anxiety. The analysis revealed four major themes related to causes of anxiety: fear of the unknown, lack of information, environmental discomfort, and physiological vulnerability. Five major themes emerged regarding nursing interventions: emotional support, defined nursing roles, patient education, complementary interventions, and holistic care approaches.
The findings showed that perioperative anxiety often stemmed from psychological fears, communication gaps, unfamiliar environments, and emotional sensitivity. The study emphasized that holistic, patient-centered care improved preoperative experiences. Perioperative nurses played a vital role in reducing anxiety by offering personalized education, emotional reassurance, and non-pharmacological interventions tailored to individual needs. This research highlighted the importance of understanding perioperative anxiety and nurses' critical role in improving surgical experience through compassionate, informed, and proactive care.
This study addressed two primary themes: the common causes of perioperative anxiety in adult surgical patients and the interventions used by perioperative nurses to alleviate such anxiety. The analysis revealed four major themes related to causes of anxiety: fear of the unknown, lack of information, environmental discomfort, and physiological vulnerability. Five major themes emerged regarding nursing interventions: emotional support, defined nursing roles, patient education, complementary interventions, and holistic care approaches.
The findings showed that perioperative anxiety often stemmed from psychological fears, communication gaps, unfamiliar environments, and emotional sensitivity. The study emphasized that holistic, patient-centered care improved preoperative experiences. Perioperative nurses played a vital role in reducing anxiety by offering personalized education, emotional reassurance, and non-pharmacological interventions tailored to individual needs. This research highlighted the importance of understanding perioperative anxiety and nurses' critical role in improving surgical experience through compassionate, informed, and proactive care.