Anxiety and mood in patients receiving intravitreal injection

B. Kızıltaş, İ. Fidancı

Department of Ophthalmology, Adana City Training & Research Hospital, Adana, Turkey. izzetfidanci@hacettepe.edu.tr

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• Ophthalmology

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to examine how anxious patients were before and after receiving intravitreal injections, which are commonly used in the treatment of ophthalmologic illnesses.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study was performed by administering a questionnaire containing sociodemographic information as well as two scales (Beck Anxiety and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory) to patients undergoing intravitreal injection in the ophthalmology department. The two scales were given to patients before and after the intravitreal injection.

RESULTS: The patients who completed part of the study were 45% male and 55% female. There was a significant difference (p<0.001) between the median values of STAI Trait anxiety inventory scores prior to intravitreal injection and STAI Trait anxiety inventory scores after intravitreal injection. The median values of STAI State anxiety inventory scores before intravitreal injection and after intravitreal injection differed (p<0.001). There was a difference (p<0.001) between the median values of Beck anxiety inventory scores before intravitreal injection and after intravitreal injection.

CONCLUSIONS: Patients who will have intravitreal injections may experience a high rate of anxiety before the treatment due to the invasive nature of the technique. As a result, intravitreal injection patients will benefit from psychological assistance and anxiety-reduction approaches.

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