Psychological Predictors of Safety Feeling in Women Undergoing Outpatient Gynecologic Procedures: A Serial Mediation Analysis.

PURPOSE: This study aims to examine the relationships between pain, surgical fear, anxiety, and safety feeling in women undergoing outpatient gynecological surgery. DESIGN: This research is a cross-sectional, quantitative study employing a serial mediation model. METHODS: The study was conducted with 306 women undergoing outpatient surgical procedures in the probe-curette unit of a state hospital in Turkey. Serial mediation analysis was conducted with PROCESS Macro Model 6. FINDINGS: Pain directly increased surgical fear. Pain and surgical fear together increased anxiety levels. No direct relationship was found between pain and the feeling of safety. Surgical fear alone mediated the relationship between pain and the safety feeling, while surgical fear and anxiety together undertook a serial mediation role in this relationship. CONCLUSIONS: The study results contribute to understanding the psychological predictors of safety feelings among women undergoing outpatient gynecological surgery. IMPLICATIONS FOR PERIANESTHESIA NURSING: These findings emphasize the critical role of pain management, emotional support, and anxiety-reduction strategies in strengthening patients' feelings of safety during outpatient gynecologic procedures. By identifying women at greater psychological risk, perianesthesia nurses can provide individualized interventions that improve the perioperative experience and support patient-centered care.