63960 Surgical location affects preoperative anxiety in Mohs micrographic surgery: a prospective interventional study

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

9-1-2025

Publication Title

J Am Acad Dermatol

Abstract

Cutaneous surgery such as Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) can provoke patient anxiety. Preoperative anxiety can impair outcomes and increase postoperative pain. Limited data are available on anxiety in MMS. We sought to characterize preoperative anxiety in MMS and to evaluate a method of reducing anxiety. Upon IRB approval, we recruited 50 patients with a history of MMS and 50 with no history of MMS to participate in an interventional study aimed at evaluating and reducing anxiety surrounding MMS. Patients were randomly assigned to hear a reassuring clinical vignette about MMS or to continue surgery without the vignette. All patients completed a brief survey of demographics and scored their anxiety on a 100-point visual analog scale (VAS). Descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, and multivariate analyses were performed. The patients were primarily men (64%) age 67 ± 9.8 (mean ± standard deviation) years old. A short vignette was read to 59 patients, while 41 patients had no vignette. Overall, anxiety was lower for patients with a history of MMS compared to first-time MMS patients (24 vs 35, p<0.05). The patient vignette had no effect on anxiety (28 with vignette, 32 without, p=0.38). Anxiety varied by procedure location, with highest patient anxiety for lips (53), nose (41), and eyelid (36). Anxiety was lowest for scalp (9.8). Although limited by small sample size, procedure location and prior history of MMS affect patient anxiety.

Volume

93

First Page

AB305

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