[2] In a 2009 paper in The Journal of Nursing Measurement, researchers argued that fast-paced hospital environments make it difficult to get each patient through all 20 items, especially when other assessments must also be done.
This may be due to the fact that they are unaware of the potential threats, or it may just be because they have succeeded in shutting themselves out and eliminating all thought of doubt and fear.
[6] The main concern that low anxiety patients tend to express is finances, and they usually deny apprehension about operational dangers.
Their outward manner may seem relatively calm and well controlled, except for small moments where it is apparent to others that the patient is suffering from an inner conflict.
[6] These patients are usually very motivated to develop reliable information from medical authority in order to reach a point of comfortable relief.
[6] It is common for patients in this level of anxiety to engage in mentally distracting activities in an attempt to get their mind off of anticipated danger.
[1] Also, higher levels of anxiety can over-sensitize the patient to unpleasant stimuli, which would heighten their senses of touch, smell or hearing.
[4] Anxiety has also been proven to cause higher analgesic and anaesthetic requirement, postoperative pain, and prolonged hospital stay.