A cross-sectional study to assess the pre-operative stress levels in male and female patients in general surgery wards

Abstract

Aim: The present study was undertaken to observe the pre-operative stress levels in general surgery wards patients. Materials and Methods: The study recruited 50 male (n=30) and female (n=20) patients waiting for surgery, irrespective of the type of surgery. Assessment of depression, anxiety, and stress: Negative emotions like depression, anxiety, and stress are well measured using the DASS scale which is a standard scale and available for free on the internet for research purposes. Results: There was a higher level of depression, anxiety, and stress observed in both male and female patients. When compared between male and female patients, the depression scores were significantly high in male patients. However, the anxiety and stress scores were not significantly different between male and female patients. Conclusion: There were higher levels of depression anxiety and stress levels in patients of the general surgery ward who are waiting for surgery. The study recommends monitoring of psychological aspects in the patients and also recommends further detailed studies in this area.