The level of anxiety and factors affecting it during the waiting period for pathology result women WHO underwent hysterectomy operation for suspected cancer

Aim: This study was planned in a cross-sectional type in order to determine the level of anxiety and factors affecting it during the waiting period for pathology results among women who underwent hysterectomy for suspected cancer. Materials and Methods: The sample of the study planned in cross-sectional type consists of 109 women who underwent hysterectomy operation between April 2019 and April 2020 at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Akdeniz University Hospital and waiting for the pathology result after the operation. The research data were collected on the 3rd or 4th postoperative day, using face-to-face interview technique, Personal Information Form, State Anxiety Scale, and Cancer Anxiety Scale. The results were analyzed by SPSS and independent groups t test, Mann Whitney U test, Kruskall Wallis and Spearman correlation test were used in the data analysis. Results were evaluated at p <0.05 significance level. Results: In the study, it is detected that the average score of the State Anxiety Scale was 46.99 ± 9.12, and the average score of the Cancer Anxiety Scale was 15.10 ± 4.94 which is found that their anxiety scores were higher than normal individuals. The average state anxiety score of those who did not have sufficient social support was statistically significantly higher (p = 0.015). Cronbach's alpha value was found 0.888 for State Anxiety Scale and 0.909 for Cancer Anxiety Scale and was interpreted as highly reliable. A moderately positive significant correlation was found between the two scales. Conclusion: It is found that scheduled for hysterectomy with cancer suspicion had high state anxiety score and cancer anxiety score after hysterectomy. It is concluded that there is no statistically significant relationship between anxiety level and women's characteristics such as age, educational status, type of surgery, presence of cancer in the family, however social support significantly affects state anxiety. Key Words: Hysterectomy, pathology, anxiety, Cancer Worry Scale, nursing