Patient-reported Surgical Fear and Degree of Worry on the Day of Surgery: Correlation, Predictors, and Implications for Patient-centered Care. A Mixed-methods Study

Key Points

• Surgical fear and worry significantly predict overall anxiety levels in patients, impacting their surgical experience.
• Quantitative analysis identified key predictors of surgical fear, with 75% reporting varying degrees of worry on the day of surgery.
• Mixed-methods approach combined surveys and interviews to understand the intricate relationships between fear, worry, and anxiety.
• Findings highlight the need for tailored interventions to alleviate surgical fear, enhancing patient-centered care approaches.