Abstract
Background: Preoperative anxiety and fear of anesthesia represent significant psychological burdens for surgical patients, yet their demographic predictors remain understudied in Middle Eastern populations. This study examined the prevalence and correlates of these stressors among first-time surgical patients in Iran.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 100 patients scheduled for first-time surgery at two Zahedan hospitals (2021-2022) completed validated questionnaires assessing anxiety and anesthesia fear. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-tests, and regression analyses (SPSS v26).
Results: The study revealed that 74% of participants experienced clinically significant preoperative anxiety (mean score 13.21±9.04), with particularly elevated fears related to procedural pain (1.64±1.06), anesthesia needles (1.09±1.16), and potential ICU admission (1.47±1.37). Notably, patients with intermediate education levels (high school/diploma) demonstrated significantly higher anxiety (p=0.019) and fear (p<0.001) compared to both less-educated and more-educated counterparts. While no significant associations emerged with age, gender, or marital status (p>0.05), a strong positive correlation was observed between general anxiety and anesthesia-specific fear (r=0.422, p<0.001).
Conclusion: These findings highlight the substantial prevalence of preoperative psychological distress, particularly among patients with intermediate health literacy. The results underscore the need for tailored preoperative education programs targeting vulnerable subgroups to improve surgical experiences and outcomes.