Purpose

To study how preoperative anxiety affects postoperative recovery in orthopaedic surgery based on two specific issues: does preoperative anxiety affect postoperative anxiety, pain, and nausea in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) and does preoperative anxiety affect the quality of recovery.

Design

This was a nonexperimental quantitative observational study.

Methods

Patients (N = 37) were included through consecutive selection. Anxiety, pain, and nausea were measured preoperatively, 30 minutes after arrival at PACU and before discharge from PACU. Three days after discharge, participants completed the Quality of Recovery Questionnaire by telephone.

Findings

There was a significant correlation between preoperative anxiety and anxiety in PACU as well as anxiety, sadness, and depression 3 days after discharge from PACU.

Conclusions

Patients who experience preoperative anxiety also experience anxiety in PACU. The quality of recovery 3 days after surgery is also affected by preoperative anxiety. Patients experience continued anxiety as well as sadness and depression.