Conference Abstract | Volume 9 (ConfPro8): Abstract 125 | Published: 15 Oct 2026
Augustine Kumi1,&, Augustine Tandoh2, Freeman Owusu Ansah3, Fareeda Serwaa Brobbey3
1University of Health and Allied Sciences, 2University of Health and Allied Sciences, 3University of Ghana Medical Centre
&Corresponding author: Augustine Kumi, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ghana Health Services -Bechem Government Hospital, Email: anykumi1@gmail.com
Received: 11 Mar 2026, Accepted: 30 Aug 2026, Published: 15 Oct 2026
Domain: Mental Health
Keywords: Anxiety, preoperative counselling, general surgery, Ghana
©Augustine Kumi et al. Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health (ISSN: 2664-2824). This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution International 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Cite this article: Augustine Kumi et al., Prevalence and severity of preoperative anxiety in patients undergoing general surgery at the University of Ghana Medical Centre. Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health. 2026;9(ConfPro8):125. https://doi.org/10.37432/JIEPH-CONFPRO8-00125
Preoperative anxiety is a pervasive clinical challenge that can precipitate physiological complications, exacerbate postoperative pain, and delay recovery. At the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC), understanding the epidemiological burden and drivers of this anxiety is vital for optimizing perioperative protocols and patient outcomes. This study aimed to determine the prevalence, severity, and contributing risk factors of preoperative anxiety among general surgery patients.
A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among 148 patients undergoing elective and emergency general surgical operations at UGMC. Preoperative anxiety was assessed using the validated Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), alongside a structured questionnaire evaluating patient-centric sociodemographic and clinical factors.
A significant majority of patients (81.1%) experienced preoperative anxiety. Among those anxious, mild anxiety was the most prevalent manifestation, affecting 78.4% (n = 116) of patients. Female patients exhibited a significantly higher risk of experiencing preoperative anxiety compared to males (88% vs. 74%, P < 0.029). Bivariate analysis identified severe post-surgery pain expectations, lack of preoperative procedural awareness, and larger family sizes as statistically significant contributors to elevated anxiety scores.
Preoperative anxiety represents a highly prevalent yet addressable public health concern at major referral facilities. These findings highlight a critical need to design and implement targeted, gender-sensitive preoperative counselling and robust patient-education frameworks. Addressing modifiable drivers, such as procedural awareness and pain management expectations, can significantly mitigate patient anxiety, reduce surgical complications, and optimize institutional healthcare delivery efficiency in Ghana.
Menu