THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PRIVACY AND PREOPERATIVE ANXIETY IN THE PREGNANT WOMEN UNDERGOING ELECTIVE CAESAREAN SECTION IN THE OPERATING ROOM OF SELECTED HOSPITALS OF ARAK, IRAN, IN 2020

One of the most important medical rights that requires the observance of all people, especially medical staff, is the privacy of the patient. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between privacy and preoperative anxiety in pregnant women undergoing elective caesarean section in the operating room.

This study was a descriptive cross-sectional study in which 105 pregnant women underwent elective cesarean section in the operating room wards of selected hospitals in Arak, Iran, who were included in the study by convenient sampling. Data collection tools were demographic information questionnaire, patient privacy questionnaire, and preoperative anxiety Spielberger's questionnaire, whose validity and reliability were confirmed. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics as well as Pearson's correlation, Fisher's exact, and chi-square tests at the inferential level using SPSS software version 12.

Pearson's correlation coefficient analysis did not show any significant relationship between respect for patient privacy and overt anxiety of patients (p=0.736). Also, there was no significant relationship between patient privacy and patients' covert anxiety (p=0.172). In total, the privacy of the patients was at a good level and the anxiety levels of the patients were at an average level.

Considering the desired level of respect for patients' privacy and the average level of anxiety as well as the lack of significant correlation between these indicators, it is suggested to conduct similar studies with a larger sample size. Due to the observance of good privacy in the present study, the average anxiety level of the patients could be attributed to other underlying factors.