Exploring Preoperative Anxiety in Patients with Breast Cancer Undergoing Surgery: A Qualitative Study.

Purpose: To explore preoperative anxiety in patients with breast cancer undergoing surgery by integrating Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory, thereby providing a comprehensive understanding of the multidimensional perspectives within Thai culture.

Design: A qualitative instrumental case study approach was used.

Methods: This study was conducted to gain a deep understanding of the experiences of newly admitted female breast cancer undergoing surgery. Semistructured interviews were employed to gather data on the day before surgery. The content analysis method was used for data analysis.

Findings: The study involved 15 female patients with breast cancer undergoing surgery. Preoperative anxiety was identified as a complex interplay of recurring thoughts and negative emotions related to the breast cancer diagnosis, the surgical procedure, and future treatments. Root causes included personal experiences, fear of losing femininity, social and financial concerns, and beliefs in karma. Six main themes emerged: anxiety about the surgical process, concerns about surgical outcomes and adjuvant treatments, fear of losing femininity, anxious experiences, socioeconomic impact, and karmic retribution.

Conclusions: The emerging significance of preoperative anxiety in patients with breast cancer undergoing surgery is multifaceted. A comprehensive understanding of this anxiety can aid perioperative nurses in addressing multidimensional concerns when assessing and providing nursing care for these patients.