Evaluating the relationships among pain, anxiety, and fear in trauma patients

Aim: The research was carried out to determine the relationship between pain, anxiety and fear in trauma patients admitted to the emergency department. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive study, 400 patients who came to Emergency Department with hand, arm, and foot trauma (fractures) were included. Research data were collected with the Personal Information Form, the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), the Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS), the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), and the Spielberg State and Trait Anixety Inventory (STAI). Descriptive statistics, univariate analysis, structural equation modeling, and path analysis were used in the analysis of the data. Results: The mean scores of the patients from the scales are, respectively: AIS:3.98±1.46, VAS- Pain:3.98±1.46, VAS-Fear:5.66±2.12, PCS total score:24.19±12.37, STAI-State:46.60±6.40, STAI-Trait:44.07±6.13. In trauma patients, there was a high positive correlation between VAS-pain and VAS-fear, and a moderate positive correlation between VAS-pain, VAS-fear and STAI-State anxiety and PCS scores. In the study, it was determined that pain and fear indirectly affect state and trait anxiety. Pain level affects fear and PCS scores, and PPS affects statefulness and trait anxiety. The level of fear also affects PCS scores, and PCS scores affect statefulness and trait anxiety. It was found that pain, fear, and PCS indirectly affected state and trait anxiety. Conclusion: As a result of the research, it was determined that the pain, fear, anxiety, and pain catastrophizing scores of the patients were at an average level. In addition, it was found in the study that pain and fear indirectly affect state and trait anxiety. Key words: Emergency Department, Trauma Patient, Pain, Fear, Anixety, Catastrophizing the pain 3. GİRİŞ ve AMAÇ