Fear of Cancer and State Anxiety Among Women Undergoing Hysterectomy: A Cross-sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Fear of cancer may develop after surgery in women who underwent surgery for suspected malignancy in preoperative examinations. It is important from a psychosocial point of view that the fear of cancer and the factors affecting anxiety are determined and necessary interventions are made.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the level of state anxiety, fear of cancer, and influencing factors in women who had hysterectomies with a risk of cancer in the waiting period for the pathology result.

METHODS: The research data were collected from 109 women who underwent hysterectomy while waiting for the pathology result on the third or fourth postoperative day. Patients completed the Personal Information Form, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-I, and Cancer Worry Scale.

RESULTS: Women who underwent hysterectomy with the risk of gynecological cancer had high levels of state anxiety and cancer fear after hysterectomy; type of hysterectomy significantly affected cancer fear (P = .022), and social support (P = .015), type of hysterectomy (P = .024), and family history of cancer (P = .022) significantly affected state anxiety.

CONCLUSION: The management of these women's concerns can be improved if healthcare professionals know more about the factors affecting their state anxiety and fear.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Health professionals witness patients' most private experiences and play a key role in providing care and support. This study may be foundational in the planning and implementation of nursing interventions to manage causes of anxiety and fear during this waiting period.