Abstract
Purpose
To compare three anxiety scales; the anxiety visual analogue scale (VAS), the anxiety component of the Amsterdam preoperative anxiety and information scale (APAIS), and the state portion of the Spielburger state-trait anxiety inventory (STAI), for assessment of preoperative anxiety levels in same day admission patients.
Methods
Patients completed the three anxiety assessment scales both before and after seeing the anesthesiologist preoperatively. The scales used were the STAI, the six-question APAIS, and the VAS. APAIS was further subdivided to assess anxiety about anesthesia (sum A), anxiety about surgery (sum S) and a combined anxiety total (i.e., sum C = sum A + sum S). These scales were compared to one another. Pearson’s correlation (pair-wise deletion) was used for validity testing. Cronbach’s α analysis was used to test internal validity of the various components of the APAIS scale. A correlation co-efficient (r) ≥ 0.6 andP < 0.05 were considered significant.
Results
Four hundred and sixty three scale sets were completed by 197 patients. There was significant and positive correlation between VAS and STAI r = 0.64,P < 0.001), VAS and APAIS r = 0.6,P < 0.001), sum C and STAI r = 0.63,P < 0.001) and between VAS and sum C r = 0.61,P < 0.001). Sum C and STAI r value were consistent with repeated administration. Cronbach’s α-levels for the anxiety components of the APAIS (sum C) and desire for information were 0.84 and 0.77 respectively.
Conclusion
In addition to VAS, the anxiety component of APAIS (sum C) is a promising new practical tool to assess preoperative patient anxiety levels.
Résumé
Objectif
Comparer trois échelles d’anxiété: l’échelle visuelle analogique d’anxiété (EVA), la composante de l’échelle d’Amsterdam concernant les informations et l’anxiété préopératoires (APAIS, Amsterdam preoperative anxiety and information scale) et les paramètres d’état du questionnaire de Spielburger sur l’anxiété chronique et réactionnelle (STAI, Spielburger state-trait anxiety inventory) pour évaluer l’anxiété préopératoire des patients opérés le jour de l’admission.
Méthode
Pour tous les patients, les trois échelles d’évaluation de l’anxiété ont été utilisées avant et après la rencontre préopératoire avec l’anesthésiologiste. Ce sont la STAI, les six questions de l’APAIS et l’EVA. Le questionnaire APAIS a été ensuite subdivisé pour évaluer l’anxiété concernant l’anesthésie (somme A), l’anxiété concernant l’opération (somme O) et l’anxiété totale combinée (somme C = somme A + somme O). Ces échelles ont été comparées les unes aux autres. La corrélation de Pearson (suppression par paires) a été utilisée pour la validité de l’épreuve. L’analyse α de Cronbach a servi à tester la validité interne des diverses composantes de l’échelle APAIS. Un coefficient de corrélation (r) ≥ 0,6 et P < 0,05 ont été jugés significatifs.
Résultats
Quatre cent soixante-trois ensembles d’échelle ont été remplis par 197 patients. Une corrélation significative et positive a été observée entre les échelles EVA et STAI, r = 0,64, P < 0,001); entre EVA et APAIS, r = 0,6, P < 0,001); entre la somme C et STAI, r = 0,63, P < 0,001) et entre EVA et la somme C, r = 0,61, P < 0,001). Les valeurs de r de la somme C et de STAI sont apparues conformes à l’administration répétée. Les niveaux α de Cronbach touchant les composantes sur l’anxiété de l’échelle APAIS (somme C) et le désir d’information ont été de 0,84 et de 0,77 respectivement.
Conclusion
Les paramètres sur l’anxiété de l’échelle APAIS (somme C) semblent un nouvel outil prometteur d’évaluation préopératoire des niveaux d’anxiété qui s’ajoute à l’EVA.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Ramsay MAE. A survey of pre-operative fear. Anaesthesia 1972; 27: 396–402.
Badner NH, Nielson WR, Munk S, Kwiatkowska C, Gelb AW. Preoperative anxiety: detection and contributing factors. Can J Anaesth 1990; 37: 444–7.
Millar K, Jelicic M, Bonke B, Asbury AJ. Assessment of preoperative anxiety: comparison of measures in patients awaiting surgery for breast cancer. Br J Anaesth 1995; 74: 180–3.
Williams JGL, Jones JR. Psychophysiological responses to anesthesia and operation. JAMA 1968; 203: 415–7.
Nelson FV, Zimmerman L, Barnason S, Nieveen J, Schmaderer M. The relationship and influence of anxiety on postoperative pain in the coronary artery bypass graft patient. J Pain Symptom Manage 1998; 15: 102–9.
Evans BJ, Kiellerup FD, Stanley RO, Burrows GD, Sweet B. A communication skills programme for increasing patients’ satisfaction with general practice consultations. Br J Med Psychol 1987; 60: 373–8.
Moerman N, van Dam FSAM, Muller MJ, Oosting H. The Amsterdam preoperative anxiety and information scale (APAIS). Anesth Analg 1996; 82: 445–51.
Spielberger CD. State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (Form Y). Palo Alto: Consulting Psychologists Press Inc., 1984.
Miller KM, Wysocki T, Cassady JF Jr, Cancel D, Izenberg N. Validation of measures of parents’ preoperative anxiety and anesthesia knowledge. Anesth Analg 1999; 88: 251–7.
Kopp VJ, Shafer A. Anesthesiologists and perioperative communication. Anesthesiology 2000; 93: 548–55.
Smith AF, Shelly MP. Communication skills for anesthesiologists. Can J Anesth 1999; 46: 1082–8.
Kindler CH, Harms C, Amsler F, Ihde-Scholl T, Scheidegger D. The visual analog scale allows effective measurement of preoperative anxiety and detection of patients’ anesthetic concerns. Anesth Analg 2000; 90: 706–12.
Arellano R, Cruise C, Chung F. Timing of the anesthetist’s preoperative outpatient interview. Anesth Analg 1989; 68: 645–8.
Vogelsang J. The visual analog scale: an accurate and sensitive method for self-reporting preoperative anxiety. J Post Anesth Nurs 1988; 3: 235–9.
Poulton EC. Models for biases in judging sensory magnitude. Psychol Bull 1979; 86: 777–803.
Calvin RL, Lane PL. Perioperative uncertainty and state anxiety of orthopaedic surgical patients. Orthop Nurs 1999; 18: 61–6.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Boker, A., Brownell, L. & Donen, N. The Amsterdam preoperative anxiety and information scale provides a simple and reliable measure of preoperative anxiety. Can J Anesth 49, 792–798 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03017410
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03017410