Pre-Operative Anxiety and Coping Strategies in Relation to Post-Operative Recovery Management

Abstract

Surgical procedures often elicit significant psychological responses among patients, which can influence their overall recovery experience and outcomes. This study examined the relationship between pre-operative anxiety, coping strategies, and post-operative recovery management among surgical patients, emphasizing how psychological responses prior to surgery and coping behaviors influence recovery outcomes such as pain management, physiological stability, complication prevention, and functional recovery. The study employed a descriptive-correlational research design and was conducted in a tertiary government hospital in Ozamiz City, Philippines. A total of 100 surgical patients undergoing elective procedures were purposively included in the study. Data were gathered through a researcher-made questionnaire and analyzed using the weighted mean, standard deviation, and Pearson’s Product-Moment Correlation Coefficient. Patients demonstrated extremely elevated pre-operative anxiety, highly utilized coping strategies, and excellent post-operative recovery management. Pre-operative anxiety does not directly influence post-operative recovery management, whereas coping strategies such as emotion-focused coping and cognitive reframing contribute in limited and specific ways, indicating that recovery outcomes are largely shaped by other clinical and supportive factors. Healthcare providers may integrate structured anxiety screening, coping interventions, and continuous clinical management to enhance both psychological support and post-operative recovery outcomes among surgical patients.