The relationship between uncertainty and acute procedure anxiety among surgical patients in Chinese mainland: the mediating role of resilience

Abstract

Background Surgery, as one of the main diagnostic and treatment methods, is a routine work in medical settings. Patients undergoing surgery often experience acute procedure anxiety due to uncertainty. There is ample evidence showing that uncertainty is a risk factor for the acute procedure anxiety in surgical patients. However, little is known about the psychological processes mediating this relationship. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate resilience as a mediator of the association between uncertainty and anxiety. Methods A population-based cross-sectional survey with a convenience sampling method was conducted, involving 243 surgical patients in Jiaxing, Zhejiang province of China was carried out. Relevant data were collected by self-reporting questionnaires, including demographic characteristics questionnaire, Amsterdam Preoperative Anxiety and Information Scale (APAIS-C), Mishel’s Illness Uncertainty Scale (MUIS), Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC). Pearson correlation analysis was employed to examine correlations between various variables. A path model was used to assess the mediation effect of resilience with respect to uncertainty and acute procedure anxiety. Results In the path model, uncertainty have an indirect effect on acute procedure anxiety through resilience. The results suggest that resilience has a mediating role in uncertainty and acute procedure anxiety among surgical patients. Conclusions These findings call for the development of interventions targeting the role of resilience in effectively predicting and preventing acute procedure anxiety and uncertainty among surgical patients.

Psychological resilience in the relationship between family function and illness uncertainty among family members of trauma patients in the intensive care unit

“…Many studies have also illustrated that strong psychological resilience of family caregivers is directly associated with high caregiver preparedness, mild caregiver burden, as well as good mental health and sleep quality [ 30 – 33 ], so it is almost seen as a positive psychological element to resist the negative effects of illness-related stress [ 34 ]. Furthermore, there is some research illustrating that psychological resilience can also exert a certain effect on regulating the relationship among acute procedure anxiety, coping styles, post-traumatic growth and illness uncertainty in individuals [ 35 – 37 ], and these are beneficial for shedding novel lights on illness uncertainty management among family members. The condition of patients with severe trauma is characterized as dangerous, complicated, and changeable, and their unexpected hospitalization in the ICU must be a life-threatening crisis for family members.…”