Abstract text (incl. references and figure legends)
Introduction Postponements of surgery present a constant challenge for both the healthcare system and patients, which can have many adverse effects on patients" health. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of postponed surgeries has multiplied, something unseen in recent decades. Patients" preoperative anxiety can be traced back to a wide range of reasons, to which the pandemic also contributed.
Material & Methods 83 patients between the ages of 18 and 60 waiting for arthroscopic knee surgery registered at the Traumatology Department of the University of Szeged were included in the study on an anonymous, voluntary basis. The study group included 54 patients whose surgery was postponed one or more times during the second or third wave of the pandemic, or whose surgical appointment was postponed. The control group consisted of 29 patients whose complaints arose after the end of the third wave of the pandemic, and whose doctor, after the necessary examinations, planned and booked their surgery. Patients filled out the WBI-5, STAI, PSS, RS questionairs.
Results According to the results, there is a significant difference in the level of well-being, perceived stress and anxiety among patients who experienced mood changes due to the pandemic situation, compared to those who did not. Patients whose surgery had been postponed several times are characterized by worse well-being and higher anxiety. The duration of the surgical postponement does not influence the psychological state of the patients.In terms of anxiety, including trait and state anxiety, the highest score was shown when the notification of the surgical postponement was provided by assistants, followed by doctors, while the lowest level of anxiety was shown when postponement was reported by email notification.
Conclusions The patient"s problem is not primarily with the long appointment time interval, but instead with the need to mentally prepare for the surgery at each instance, and to then process the disappointment caused by the postponement.
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