The Relationship Between Preoperative Anxiety Levels of Patients Undergoing Total Knee Arthroplasty and Postoperative Recovery

Abstract

Purpose: Surgical interventions are significant factors that cause anxiety in individuals. This study aimed to determine the effect of preoperative anxiety on postoperative recovery in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty. Design: A cross-sectional and correlational study. Methods: This study was conducted between February 2023 and September 2023 with 204 patients scheduled for total knee arthroplasty. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using the Patient Information Form, Surgical Anxiety Questionnaire for Adult Patients, and Postoperative Recovery Index (PRI). Findings: The Surgical Anxiety Questionnaire for Adult Patients' mean score was 31.38 ± 13.91 and the PRI total score was 2.98 ± 0.76. The subscale showed that the highest scores were 12.14 ± 4.97 for health-related anxiety. The anxiety scores concerning recovery, surgical procedures, and invasive procedures were lower. Patients experienced moderate difficulty in the recovery of intestinal symptoms (2.55 ± 0.98) and psychological symptoms (2.43 ± 0.88), significant difficulty in the recovery of desire-wish symptoms (>2.5), and extreme difficulty in the recovery of physical symptoms (3.87 ± 0.81). A positive and statistically significant relationship was found between surgical anxiety levels and postoperative recovery index mean scores (P < .001). Conclusions: The study showed that preoperative surgical anxiety negatively impacts postoperative recovery. Identifying preoperative anxiety levels and implementing interventions to reduce or eliminate surgical anxiety will be beneficial in achieving positive outcomes in the postoperative recovery process. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.