The Status and Expectations of the Relatives of Surgery Patients in the Waiting Area of Guilan Academic Hospitals

Bahram  Naderi Nabi; Mohammad Haghighi; Misa Naghdipour Mirsadeghi; Soheil Soltanipour; Mohammad Amin Ashoobi; Pourya Zahergivar; Hananeh Haghighatpanah  Rastekenari; Gelareh Biazar

doi:10.18502/jimc.v7i4.16629

Bahram Naderi Nabi Anesthesiology Research Center, Department of Anesthesiology, Alzahra Hospital, Guilan University of Medical, Sciences, Rasht, Iran
Mohammad Haghighi Anesthesiology Research Center, Department of Anesthesiology, Alzahra Hospital, Guilan University of Medical, Sciences, Rasht, Iran
Misa Naghdipour Mirsadeghi Department of Gynecology, School of Medicine, Reproductive Health Research Center, Alzahra Hospital, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
Soheil Soltanipour Department of Community Medicine, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
Mohammad Amin Ashoobi Anesthesiology Research Center, Department of Anesthesiology, Alzahra Hospital, Guilan University of Medical, Sciences, Rasht, Iran
Pourya Zahergivar Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
Hananeh Haghighatpanah Rastekenari Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
Gelareh Biazar Anesthesiology Research Center, Department of Anesthesiology, Alzahra Hospital, Guilan University of Medical, Sciences, Rasht, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/jimc.v7i4.16629

Keywords: Anesthesiologists, Anxiety, Cross-sectional studies, Educational status, Humans, Motivation, Operating rooms

Abstract

Background: The situation of the relatives of surgery patients in waiting areas is an important issue, which has not been investigated in Guilan province, so this study was planned.

Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in Guilan academic hospitals (Razi-Poorsina-Heshmat-Alzahra–Amir al Momenin) from Feb 2022 to Dec 2022. Relatives of patients who underwent elective surgeries enrolled the survey. A questionnaire containing two parts of demographic data and 12 items assessing relative’s conditions in waiting area was filled out via a direct interview.

Results: 318 relatives enrolled the survey. 93.2% of patients’ relatives were first-degree relatives.76.7% had information about the surgery. 41.5% were informed of their patient’s status in operating room. Fear of not emergence from anesthesia 109(34.3%) and death 105(33.0%) were the main causes of anxiety which was reported as 8.23±28.2 from 10 and only 6(1.9%) had financial concern. 86.8% of the responders declared that being informed from their patient’s condition in operating room, was the most effective approach to reduce their anxiety. A positive and highly significant association was observed between the level of education and receiving explanation from surgeon, anesthesiologist and being informed from patients’ status in waiting area (p=0.001).

Conclusion: It was found that relatives of surgery patients suffered from high degrees of anxiety mainly due to fear of death and not emergence from anesthesia. They stated that being informed from their patient’s conditions was the most powerful factor in reducing their anxiety.