Predictors of health expectation and health anxiety among post-salpingectomy patients in Ibadan Nigeria.

OBJECTIVE: Salpingectomy is the surgical removal of a fallopian tube, often as a result of tubal pregnancy. Little is known about the role of self-efficacy, health consciousness and health locus of control in health expectation and health anxiety among post-salpingectomy patients.

BACKGROUND: An ectopic pregnancy and subsequent salpingectomy could present significant life crises for any woman with far-reaching implications.

METHODS: Sixty purposively selected post-salpingectomy women (gravida 0-6; parity 0-4; mean age 34 ± 4.05 years) were included in the cross-sectional survey. A 49-item questionnaire made up of the perceived self-efficacy scale, as well as health consciousness, health orientation, health anxiety and health expectation subscales of Snell's Health Orientation Scale, was used for data collection. Descriptive (means; SD; and %) and inferential (multiple regression; t-test; and Zero-Order correlation) statistics were employed in analysis, with two hypotheses tested at p < 0.05.

RESULTS: Health consciousness, health locus of control and self-efficacy jointly predicted health expectation and health anxiety with differences in independent prediction of health expectation and health anxiety. Participants with a low level of health consciousness reported a higher level of health expectation and health anxiety. A low level of self-efficacy yielded a higher level of health expectation. Participants with external health locus of control reported significantly higher levels of health anxiety.

CONCLUSION: These psychological factors are pertinent in forecasting health expectation and health anxiety among post-salpingectomy patients. Attention to these psychological factors in the management of patients with reproductive and surgical challenges would enhance a patient-centred approach to care.