Associations Between Religiosity and Perioperative Privacy in Turkish Patients Undergoing Surgery

Abstract

Introduction:

Privacy is a key ethical principle in health care, and religious beliefs significantly shape patients’ expectations and perceptions in surgical settings. This study aimed to determine patients’ perceptions of privacy during the perioperative period and to examine the relationship between these perceptions and their religious attitudes.

Methods:

This study employed a descriptive, cross-sectional design. The study was conducted between July and September 2025 with 268 patients who had undergone surgery at a public hospital in Central Anatolia, Türkiye. Data were collected using a Personal Information Form, the Perioperative Privacy Scale, and the Short Form of the Religious Attitude Scale.

Results:

The mean Perioperative Privacy Scale score was 62.99 ± 12.41, and the mean Religious Attitude Scale score was 3.40 ± 0.62. A significant negative correlation was found between religiosity and privacy perception (r = –0.257, p < .01).

Discussion:

These findings indicate that perioperative care is closely related not only to clinical practices but also to individuals’ religious and cultural expectations.