Anxiety in patients having caesarean section under regional anaesthesia: aquestionnaire and pilot study

The aim of this pilot study was to investigate anxiety levels in patients u ndergoing elective caesarean section under regional anaesthesia, and to asc ertain whether this group of patients considered the administration of anxi olytic premedicant drugs before surgery acceptable. Anxiety was assessed by two means, using a self-reported anxiety score and a physiological evaluat ion in the form of skin conductance measurements. The patient was given an information sheet explaining the potential advantages and disadvantages ass ociated with the use of temazepam as an anxiolytic premedicant before caesa rean section. Having read the information sheet, the patient's opinion rega rding the use of anxiolytic premedicant drugs in this context was determine d using a questionnaire. Most women reported high preoperative anxiety leve ls, although the cause of their anxiety was not determined. In our hospital , a significant proportion of such women would accept temazepam as anxiolyt ic premedication, despite being aware of its potential adverse side effects . (C) 2001 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.