[Measure of preoperative anxiety and need for information with six issues]

Introduction: A questionnaire for self-assessment, the Amsterdam Preoperative Anxiety and Information Scale (APAIS) translated into French has been compared to a background questionnaire to validate their use as screening tool and assessment of anxiety and information needs of patients.

Patients and method: An epidemiological study was conducted anonymously. Patients completed a questionnaire comprising a French version of APAIS and Spielberger Anxiety Inventory (STAI). A study of correlation between scores for each questionnaire was conducted. A high level of anxiety was investigated.

Results: So 1800 questionnaires were distributed, 1504 were usable. The first 100 questionnaires have confirmed the internal validity of the questionnaire APAIS. The following questionnaires in 1404 accounted 49.7% of men 55.7 ± 15.7 years old and 50.2% of women 50.8 ± 15.2 years old. The correlation coefficient (r) between STAI state and appeasement was of 0.675 (P<0.001). A score higher than 10/20 by APAIS corresponded to 73% of patients with high anxiety by Spielberger's inventory. No correlation was found between the STAI state and the need for information (r=0.252; P<0.001).

Conclusion: APAIS, in its French version, assesses anxiety and information needs of patients. This questionnaire has metrological capabilities and ease of execution that make it a screening tool for use in anesthesia consultation. A score above 10 out of 20 reflects a high level of anxiety.