Factors Associated with Psychological Distress at Home following Elective Surgery in a Representative Group of Surgical Patients: An Explorative Panel Study

Abstract

Background.

Physical care and the provision of harmless treatment is the main objective of peri-operative nursing care with psychological distress being less addressed.

Aim.

The aim of the study is to describe postoperative psychological distress of elective surgical patients and identify factors that are present or known during hospitalisation and detect their associations with the psychological distress at home at least four weeks post discharge from the hospital.

Method.

390 patients participated in the study. Symptoms of psychological distress were measured with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale.

Results.

Surgical patients experience symptoms of anxiety and depression, with spinal patients experiencing most symptoms. The symptom causing most patients (10%) the greatest distress prior to surgery was trouble with movement. Younger age, scores on the HADS subscales at the hospital, and pain and symptoms at the hospital, correlated sifnificantly with scores on the HADS subscales at home. Women, patients on a waiting list before the surgery, those who were not very satisfied with care received at the hospital, patients with children at home and those that had lung disease or a psychiatric disorder scored higher on the HADS subscales at home than their counterparts. Conclusion. Nurses should routinely screen patients for psychological distress at home and develop realistic intervention strategies.

Keywords

Anxiety depression nursing psychological distress surgical patients symptoms

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