Validating a short questionnaire to detect anxiety before cancer surgery
The Assessment of Preoperative Anxiety in Cancer Patients: Validation, Observational, Descriptive Study.
This project tests whether the Surgical Anxiety Questionnaire (SAQ) works well for Italian-speaking adults with cancer in the hours or days before surgery.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 180 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Centro di Riferimento Oncologico - Aviano Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Aviano, Pordenone) |
| Trial ID | NCT07517458 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This observational validation will enroll adult cancer patients admitted for ordinary hospitalization, day surgery, or day hospital at CRO Aviano who can understand Italian and provide consent. Participants will complete the preoperative SAQ and researchers will examine its reliability, factor structure, and which items best capture emotions, concerns, and fears related to impending surgery. Patients with cognitive dysfunction or active psychiatric disorders will be excluded to avoid confounding responses. No therapeutic interventions are administered; data collection occurs within routine clinical care.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults (≥18) with cancer who are scheduled for surgery, able to understand Italian, and able to give informed consent are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People under 18, those with cognitive impairment or active psychiatric disorders, non–Italian speakers, or patients not undergoing surgery are unlikely to benefit from this validation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, clinicians and nurses could use a brief, validated Italian SAQ to identify anxious patients and tailor preoperative care.
How similar studies have performed: The SAQ has been translated and validated in multiple languages with prior studies supporting its reliability, though its performance specifically in Italian surgical oncology has not been established.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * In ordinary hospitalization, day surgery, day hospital * Age ≥ 18 years * Signature of consent participation in the study and personal data collection and processing * Good understanding of the Italian language Exclusion Criteria: * Age \< 18 years * Diagnosis of cognitive dysfunction and psychiatric disorders, or uncooperative patient * Difficulty in understanding the Italian language
Where this trial is running
Aviano, Pordenone
- Centro di Riferimento Oncologico (CRO) di Aviano - IRCCS — Aviano, Pordenone, Italy (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Cristina Mazzega Fabbro
- Email: cristina.mazzega@cro.it
- Phone: 0432 520922
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.