Anxiety in colorectal surgery
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A descriptive qualitative exploration of anxiety experienced by patients during admission for elective colorectal resection. Focussing on the anxiety provoking or reducing features of the entire hospital admission, pre-operative education, and urban myths held about surgery prior to admission.
IRAS ID
219753
Contact name
Helen J. Candlish
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
NHS
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 3 months, 0 days
Research summary
Anxiety is a series of physical and psychological responses to negative occurrences in the environment. Anxiety can affect blood pressure and heart rate, depress the immune system, and slow down wound healing. Prior studies have shown that anxious patients can feel more pain, and need more pain-relieving medication. Up to 70% of patients feel moderately anxious when coming into hospital for major surgery.\n\nDespite anxiety having negative effects, interventions, some of them easy and economical, are not always a part of everyday nursing practice. Music, relaxation therapy, medication, handholding and increased social support have all been shown to have a small, yet, statistically significant impact on the reduction of anxiety. The nature of colorectal surgery has changed in some ways due to new enhanced recovery programmes. These programmes change details of the actual surgery and the anaesthetics used. They allow the patient to eat more quickly after surgery and mobilise much earlier than in previous years. The aim is to shorten the length of stay in hospital for patients.\n\nThe study aims to explore the anxiety inducing stimulus experienced by the participants during an admission to hospital for colorectal surgery. With the changes that enhanced recovery has brought, the causes of anxiety under enhanced recovery may have altered. Focus will also be on the impact on anxiety of pre-operative information and education. Highlighting which aspects proved of value and which didn’t. The study also seeks to find out if any information that the participants felt was needed hadn’t been given.\n\nThe study will explore the extent the participants were affected by the myths that tend to circulate regarding surgery. For example, there are fears over waking up during surgery and feeling tremendous pain. These goals will be achieved by interviewing patients who have recently had colorectal surgery. Their responses will be analysed by the researchers and findings presented.\n\nPrimary objective\nTo explore the nature of anxiety inducing stimuli over the course of a patient’s admission, from preadmission to discharge.\nTo explore the patient’s experience of the usefulness of education, and identify any ‘missing’ information.\n\nSecondary objective\nTo explore any myths and preconceptions affecting anxiety levels prior to admission, along with any suggested advice for future patients.
REC name
West of Scotland REC 1
REC reference
17/WS/0043
Date of REC Opinion
11 Apr 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion