Impact of preanesthetic consultation on presurgical anxiety assessed using the Amsterdam Preoperative Anxiety and Information Scale

BACKGROUND Preanesthesia consultation can be an effective tool for reducing anxiety scores in patients scheduled for elective surgery. Anxiety can cause perioperative complications. OBJECTIVE was to determine the impact of preanesthesia consultation on anxiety scores. PATIENTS AND METHODS A single-center, observational study was carried out, with a descriptive, cross-sectional design and primary source. The anxiety score assessed using the APAIS scale (Amsterdam Preoperative Anxiety and Information Scale) was evaluated in adult participants before and after the pre-anesthetic consultation during the period December 2024 to April 2025. Statistical analysis was performed using the Wilcoxon, McNemar and chi-square tests. A P value < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS A total of 190 participants were interviewed, of whom 180 were ultimately analyzed; 76.7% were women, and the mean age was 41.6 years. The most frequent procedures were general surgery and gynecological procedures. 86.7% had previously received anesthesia. The prevalence of pre-consultation anxiety was 68.3%, decreasing to 47.2% after the consultation (p = 0.001). All interviewees between the ages of 18 and 25 reported anxiety before the pre-anesthesia consultation (p = 0.031). The anesthetic technique that generated the greatest fear was general anesthesia (42.8%), with the most frequently reported cause being fear of death (15.6%). CONCLUSION Preoperative anxiety is highly prevalent, and preanesthetic consultation could be an effective intervention to significantly reduce it.