EXPLORING PREOPERATIVE ANXIETY IN BREAST CANCER PATIENTS AWAITING SURGERY: A QUALITATIVE RESEARCH

Abstract

Preoperative anxiety is a subjective unpleasant emotional symptom that can occur throughout surgical process. In preoperative form, it is characterized by nervousness, vigilance, and avoidance of perioperative situation. The main objective of this research is to understand the meaning and themes of preoperative anxiety by integrating the interdisciplinary perspectives of psychiatry, perioperative medicine, psycho-oncology, health sociology, medical anthropology, and behavioral economics in breast cancer patients awaiting surgery. The target participants of this research are female breast cancer patients, 18 years of age or older, with high anxiety symptoms, who are scheduled for total mastectomy or breast conservative surgery, and would be undergoing surgery. Instrumental case study approach will be utilized for data collecting through semi-structured in-depth interview and observation. Purposive sampling technique that will be used for collecting data till data saturation from surgical ward for breast cancer, Thailand. Thematic analysis will be performed for constructing the meaning and themes of preoperative anxiety in breast cancer patients awaiting surgery. Trustworthiness will be tested by utilizing data triangulation that included methodology triangulation will be performed by confirming findings from interview and observation. The implication of this study would enhance the understanding and knowledge on preoperative anxiety symptom for changing perspective of preoperative anxiety in medical practice of health care providers in Thailand.