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Level of anxiety versus self-care in the preoperative and postoperative periods of total laryngectomy patients1 1 1 Paper extrated from Doctoral Dissertation "Nivel de ansiedad versus nivel de autocuidados en el paciente laringectomizado", presented to Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Andalucía, Spain.

Abstract

Objective:

estimate the prevalence of anxiety in laryngectomy patients in the pre and postoperative periods and its relation with the self-care level.

Method:

observational research of 40 patients with stage IV laryngeal cancer. Three observations took place: in the preoperative phase, at seven and at 14 days after the surgery; between June 2010 and December 2012. Two self-care levels were defined: self-sufficient and needing help for activities of daily living and treatment-related activities. To assess the anxiety levels, Zigmond's hospital anxiety scale (1983) was used.

Results:

in the preoperative and postoperative phases, the patients presented high levels of anxiety. Concerning self-care, on average, self-sufficient patients presented lower levels of anxiety than patients who needed help to accomplish activities of daily living and activities deriving from the surgery, without significant differences.

Conclusion:

anxiety is present at all times in laryngectomy patients and the reduction of the self-care deficit seems to decrease it, without putting a permanent end to it.

Descriptors:
Neoplasms; Laryngeal Mucosa; Laryngectomy; Anxiety; Adjustment Disorders; Activities of Daily Living

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