Determinant factors of the anxiety and mechanisms of coping on general surgical procedures

Abstract

Objectives: identify the determinant factors of the increase of anxiety in patients in the preoperatory period; determine the mechanisms of coping most used by the surgical patients. Method: exploratory study, descriptive, qualitative involving 19 patients hospitalized in the Surgical Clinic of a University Hospital in the city of Rio de Janeiro during the period of November-December 2011. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and were analyzed through Bardin's content analysis. Results: The study demonstrates that the factors that increase the anxiety in surgical patients were the surgical procedures and the worry for their families. For the main strategies used by the patients during the preoperatory were faith and hope. Conclusion: Thus, we identified the main feelings about the surgical procedure involved, leaving health professionals intervene, and promoting improved care about the stressing environment experienced by the patient.