ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to determine and examine relationship between factors including gender, trait anxiety, length of waiting for the surgery, uncertainty, and preoperative anxiety among patients undergoing abdominal surgery in Thai Nguyen National General Hospital, Vietnam. Sample included 100 patients undergoing abdominal surgery were selected by the simple random sampling technique. Data were collected from March to April 2014. Research instrument consist of 4 questionnaires including, the demographic questionnaire, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Adult Questionnaire form (Y-2), the Mishel Uncertainty in Illness Scale, and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Adult Questionnaire (STAIQ) Form (Y-1). The reliability of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Adult Questionnaire form (Y-2) was .85, the Mishel Uncertainty in Illness Scale was .89, and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Adult Questionnaire (STAIQ) Form (Y-1) was .84. Data were analyzed by using descriptive statistic, Pearson correlation, and Point biserial correlation.

The research finding showed that 53% of the sample was males and 47% of the sample was females. The mean score of trait anxiety was 50.40 (SD = 8.72), which actual range from 31-70. In addition, the finding results showed that the mean score of length of waiting for the surgery was 5.95 day (SD = 2.24), which actual range from 2-11 days. The mean score of uncertainty was 85.70 (SD = 16.13), which actual range from 51-121.

In addition, the results revealed that mean scores of preoperative anxiety among patients undergoing abdominal surgery was 51.65 (SD = 8.28) and there were positive association between trait anxiety, length of waiting for the surgery, uncertainty, and preoperative anxiety (r=.48**, p < .01; r=.32**, p < .01; r=.45**, p < .01). However, there were no correlations between gender and preoperative anxiety (p > .05).

The findings indicated that nurses should concern to regularly evaluate trait anxiety, length of waiting for the surgery, uncertainty, and preoperative anxiety for individuals of patients undergoing abdominal surgery. Also, nurses should design an effective intervention to reduce preoperative anxiety