Relatives’ Needs, Anxiety, and Expectations During the Intraoperative Waiting Period: A Cross-Sectional Survey in a Tertiary Referral Hospital in Morocco

TL;DR

This study explores the anxiety and unmet needs of family members waiting during surgeries at a hospital in Morocco, highlighting poor communication and high stress levels.

Contribution

The study provides new insights into family experiences during intraoperative waiting periods in a middle-income country hospital setting.

Findings

64.6% of relatives reported high anxiety during the intraoperative waiting period.

77.8% of relatives received no information during surgery, and only 33.0% were satisfied with communication frequency.

Unmet needs included regular updates (75.4%), dedicated waiting areas (72.2%), and a contact person (65.2%).

Abstract

Background: Family-centered care is increasingly recognized as a core component of peri-anesthesia practice. However, relatives’ experiences during the intraoperative waiting period remain insufficiently documented, particularly in middle-income countries. Limited communication during surgery may be associated with heightened anxiety and dissatisfaction among family members, even in technically well-resourced hospitals.

Objective: The primary objective was to assess relatives’ anxiety levels and unmet needs during the intraoperative waiting period. Secondary objectives were to describe peri-anesthesia communication practices, sources of distress, and overall satisfaction with information provided at a high-volume tertiary referral hospital in Morocco.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted at Mohammed V Military Teaching Hospital (HMIM V-Rabat) over a four-month period. Adult relatives of patients undergoing surgery under anesthesia were invited to complete an anonymous, structured questionnaire after completion of surgery and initial postoperative communication. The survey explored sociodemographic characteristics, peri-anesthesia communication practices, emotional experience, and perceived unmet needs. Anxiety was assessed using a 5-point Likert scale, and analyses were strictly descriptive.

Results: A total of 500 relatives were included. High anxiety during the intraoperative waiting period was reported by 323 relatives (64.6%), while 92 (18.4%) reported moderate anxiety and 85 (17.0%) reported low anxiety. Most relatives, 389 (77.8%), received no information while surgery was ongoing, and only 165 (33.0%) were satisfied with the frequency of communication. The most frequently reported sources of anxiety were lack of information (70.4%), fear of surgical complications (62.4%), and prolonged waiting time (52.0%). Frequently identified unmet needs included more regular information updates (75.4%), access to a dedicated waiting area (72.2%), and the availability of a clearly identified contact person (65.2%).

Conclusion: Relatives’ experiences during the intraoperative waiting period represent an important yet under-addressed dimension of peri-anesthesia care in tertiary referral hospitals. High anxiety and dissatisfaction were frequently reported alongside communication and organizational constraints. Structured intraoperative information updates delivered through a designated contact person may represent a feasible and low-cost strategy for improving family-centered peri-anesthesia care.

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