Effect of preanesthetic assessment timing on preoperative anxiety in outpatients

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of preanesthetic assesment timing on preoperative anxiety in outpatients who undergo minor surgery. Material and methods: A total of 144 ASA physical status I and II patients aged 18-80 years who underwent a daily minor surgical procedure with local anesthesia and sedation at Dokuz Eylül University Medical Faculty Hospital, Daytime Hospital were included in the study. The patients were studied in two groups. Group P; preanesthetic assesment was performed in anesthesia outpatient clinic. Group G; preanesthetic assesment was performed in Daytime Hospital. The STAI questionnaire measuring anxiety levels and VAS were measured before preanesthetic assesment in both groups (State Anxiety 1, Trait Anxiety, VAS 1). In both groups, STAI questionnaire and VAS were repeated in the preoperative waiting area just before the operation room (State Anxiety 2, VAS 2). Results: State Anxiety 1 scores, Group P: 35.22±8.90, Group G: 35.11±8.80; State Anxiety 2 scores, Group P: 37.97±10.90, Group G: 38.04±9.47. In each groups, the State Anxiety 2 scores were higher than the State Anxiety 1 scores (p:0.018 for Group P, p:0.01 for Group G) but when the groups were compared, there was no difference between the two groups. Similarly, there was no significant difference between the two groups when comparing Trait Anxiety, VAS 1, VAS 2 values (p>0.05). There were no cases where the operation was canceled or delayed in the patients included in the study. Conclusion: It was concluded that the preanesthetic evaluation timing of the patients who were planned to undergo minor surgery in the presence of local anesthesia and sedoanalgesia did not affect the preoperative anxiety level of the patients and did not change their operation plans. Key Words: Preoperative anxiety, STAI, Preoperative Assesment, Outpatients