Objective To describe the level of anxiety associated with need and risk factors in patients underwent consecutive operation during induction waiting period.

Methods Using convenient sampling, 97 patients receiving elective general anesthesia in Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University from July to September 2018 were investigated by the Amsterdam Anxiety and Information Needs Scale (APAIS) questionnaire surveys during induction waiting period.

Results The incidence of severe anxiety was 11.3% in patients undergoing surgery during induction period. There was a positive correlation between information needs and general anxiety (r=0.535, P < 0.001). Poor family relationship and previous painful anesthesia experience were risk factors for the occurrence of preoperative anxiety, while low-grade surgery was the influencing factor for high preoperative information demand.

Conclusions Anxiety status still occupies a certain proportion of patients during induction waiting period. It is recommended that medical personnel evaluate and screen high-risk patients to strengthen the psychological intervention for those with poor family relationship and previous painful anesthesia experience, and surgical information was preferred for patients with lower surgical grades.