Understanding surgical worries before elective operations
Psychological Evaluation of Patients Undergoing Elective Surgery With Anxiety and Surgical Concerns: a Qualitative Interview Study
This project uses a short semi-structured interview to see if identifying adults with high preoperative anxiety can help guide personalized care to reduce the risk of chronic post-surgical pain.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 30 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University Hospital, Antwerp Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Edegem, Antwerpen) |
| Trial ID | NCT07158684 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
Dutch-speaking adults scheduled for elective surgery at Antwerp University Hospital who score ≥11 on the APAIS anxiety subscale will complete a brief semi-structured interview on a tablet to describe their surgical concerns. The interview gathers detailed psychological and concern-related information that has been linked to later chronic post-surgical pain. Investigators plan to use these data to inform the development of individualized biopsychosocial care pathways and preventive policies. The work aims to translate early identification of a high-risk population into targeted pre- and post-operative support.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are Dutch-speaking adults (≥18) scheduled for elective surgery at Antwerp University Hospital who can use a tablet and score ≥11 on the APAIS anxiety subscale.
Not a fit: Patients unlikely to benefit include non–Dutch speakers, people with low preoperative anxiety scores, those undergoing diagnostic procedures requiring anesthesia (which are excluded), and emergency surgery patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could enable early identification of patients at high risk of chronic post-surgical pain and inform targeted, personalized pre- and post-operative support to lower that risk.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown that higher preoperative anxiety predicts chronic post-surgical pain, but using semi-structured interviews to create individualized biopsychosocial care pathways is relatively novel and not yet widely tested.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * ≥ 18 years old * Dutch speaking * With a planned elective surgery, at the Antwerp University Hospital * Score of ≥ 11 on APAIS anxiety subscale * Must be able to complete questions on a tablet (digital literacy) * Signed informed consen (prescreening informed consent and study participation informed consent) Exclusion Criteria: * Diagnostic procedures requiring anaesthesia
Where this trial is running
Edegem, Antwerpen
- University Hospital of Antwerp — Edegem, Antwerpen, Belgium (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Eva Wauters, Master
- Email: eva.wauters@uza.be
- Phone: +32034368165
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.