Table 3 The relationship between the descriptive and surgical characteristics of the patients and the fear of surgery scale

Age groups

x̄ ± SD

x̄ ± SD

x̄ ± SD

 18–44 years old

12.41 ± 11.49

11.48 ± 12.35

23.89 ± 22.19

 45–64 years old

9.15 ± 10.24

7.62 ± 10.98

16.77 ± 18.93

 65 years and older

7.61 ± 10.98

7.68 ± 11.67

15.29 ± 20.51

p*

0.020

0.051

0.018

Gender

 Female

13.69 ± 11.83

10.92 ± 12.55

24.62 ± 21.99

 Male

6.18 ± 8.74

6.68 ± 10.44

12.86 ± 17.43

p**

0.000

0.002

0.000

Surgical clinic

 Orthopedics

9.50 ± 11.06

8.63 ± 11.38

18.13 ± 20.18

 General surgery

9.00 ± 10.20

6.68 ± 10.23

15.68 ± 18.88

 Brain surgery

11.11 ± 11.27

10.85 ± 12.18

21.95 ± 21.71

 Urology

7.22 ± 10.37

6.60 ± 10.88

13.83 ± 19.69

 Thoracic surgery

11.33 ± 11.98

11.63 ± 14.43

22.96 ± 23.28

p***

0.156

.045

.040

History of surgery

 Yes

9.53 ± 10.86

8.68 ± 11.54

18.21 ± 20.19

 No

9.34 ± 10.94

8.13 ± 11.82

17.47 ± 21.15

p**

0.897

0.729

0.790

Type of current surgery

 Open surgery

10.09 ± 10.73

8.647 ± 11.45

18.76 ± 20.38

 Laparoscopic

9.00 ± 10.98

8.45 ± 11.73

17.45 ± 20.43

p**

0.389

0.867

0.579

Classification of current surgery

 Minor surgery

10.54 ± 11.32

8.96 ± 11.87

19.50 ± 20.98

 Major surgery

8.47 ± 10.33

8.15 ± 11.33

16.62 ± 19.76

p****

0.089

0.628

0.172

Type of current anesthesia

 General anesthesia

10.08 ± 11.05

9.19 ± 11.93

19.27 ± 20.88

 Epidural anesthesia

4.73 ± 7.85

3.36 ± 6.34

8.09 ± 12.10

p****

0.005

0.007

0.001

Pre-operative pain

 Yes

12.13 ± 12.12

10.47 ± 12.85

22.60 ± 22.98

 No

7.76 ± 9.59

7.29 ± 10.52

15.04 ± 17.92

p**

0.001

0.025

0.003

Pre-operative pain intensity

 Between 1 and 3

8.39 ± 9.96

7.49 ± 10.55

15.88 ± 18.30

 Between 4 and 6

10.89 ± 12.23

9.72 ± 12.51

20.62 ± 23.46

 Between 7 and 10

15.96 ± 13.08

15.11 ± 15.53

31.07 ± 25.68

p***

0.006

0.068

0.011