The relationship between preoperative anxiety and fear of pain and postoperative pain and comfort

This study aimed to determine the relationship between preoperative anxiety and fear of pain and postoperative pain and comfort in patients undergoing planned surgery. This descriptive study was conducted in the urology, general surgery and orthopedics departments of the 90-bed capacity Gazipaşa State Hospital in the Gazipaşa district of Antalya between March 4 and April 2, 2024. The sample of the study consisted of 100 patients who underwent surgery in these clinics. Data were collected using the "Patient Information Form", "Surgical Anxiety Scale", "Fear of Pain Scale-III", Numerical Pain Scale" and "General Comfort Scale-Short Form". Independent sample t-test, analysis of variance (ANOVA), Pearson correlation analysis and linear regression analysis were used in data analysis. It was determined that the patients' preoperative anxiety score was 28.56±11.14 (out of 68 points), their fear of pain score was 70.58±18.38 (out of 150 points), and they experienced moderate anxiety and fear of pain before surgery. In the postoperative evaluation, it was found that the pain intensity score was 6.52±1.85 (out of 10 points), their general comfort level score was 3.64±0.59 (out of 6 points), they experienced severe pain, and their comfort level was moderate. It was found that there was a positive correlation between preoperative anxiety and fear of pain and postoperative pain intensity and general comfort level (p<0.05), and as anxiety and fear of pain increased, pain intensity and general comfort level increased. Regression analysis showed that preoperative fear of pain affected both pain intensity and comfort level (p<0.034; p<0.009, respectively). The research findings showed that patients experienced moderate anxiety and fear of pain before surgery, severe pain after surgery and their comfort levels were moderate, and fear of pain had a significant effect on pain intensity and comfort. In line with these results, nurses are advised to evaluate all patients' anxiety and fear of pain before surgery, pain intensity and general comfort after surgery, and to implement individualized care interventions based on the results.