Overview

The study stems from the need to have available effective tools for detecting the anxiety of the cancer patient who has to undergo surgery.

The period leading up to surgery, is characterized by strong emotions that create an upheaval in the work, family and social life of the patient as well as concern about the unknown.

It would be crucial to ensure a personalized nursing care by having scales of assessment specific to the clinical-surgical oncology setting in order to collect the patient's emotions, concerns and fears.

Despite the numerous scales available, many of them have limitations concerning the issues they go to investigate but also concerning the timeframes for compilation, which are often long and laborious so they are difficult to apply.

The study aims to validate in the Italian context the Surgical Anxiety Questionnaire (SAQ) questionnaire, already translated and validated in multiple languages, to detect which factors are the most influential in increasing preoperative anxiety, with the aim of implementing education of the patient and implement strategies and interventions that can reduce anxiety.

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• 65 years or older
• At least one visit to primary care practice within the past year
• Ability to provide informed consent
• Ability to communicate in English or Spanish
• Available EHR data from at least the past three years

Exclusion Criteria:

• Prior ADRD or mild cognitive impairment diagnosis as determined by ICD-10 code
• Evidence of any history of prescription for a cholinesterase inhibitors or memantine.
• Has serious mental illness such as bipolar or schizophrenia as determined by ICD-10 code
• Permanent resident of a nursing facility