Evaluating the effectiveness of a preoperative teaching intervention on the anxiety levels of patients referred for urgent in-patient cardiac surgery

Duggan, Helen A.J. (2017) Evaluating the effectiveness of a preoperative teaching intervention on the anxiety levels of patients referred for urgent in-patient cardiac surgery. Masters dissertation, University of Cumbria. Item availability may be restricted.

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Abstract

Introduction: Within the current literature, preoperative education is recognised as an effective method to help prepare patients for their forthcoming operation, in this instance, specifically a reduction of anxiety levels. However, this supportive intervention is not routinely given to patients referred for urgent cardiac surgery at the research site. As a high-risk patient group, these patients are hospitalised and have only a short time to come to terms with their heart operation. With the prediction that the number of patients undergoing urgent cardiac surgery will continue to rise, it is especially important for in-hospital interventions to be developed and then offered to best support this patient group at an understandably stressful period.

Aim: To evaluate the potential effectiveness of a preoperative teaching intervention on anxiety levels in patients referred for urgent in-patient cardiac surgery.

Methods: This feasibility randomised control trial adopted a quantitative methodology. Data was collected through two standardised assessment tools (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire). The questionnaires were completed by the participants at three points of their inpatient cardiac journey. The sample population was recruited at an acute tertiary Cardiac Centre over a 5-month period.

Results: Of the 25 participants randomised into the trial, 16 (64%) completed the study. No significant difference was seen between the mean anxiety scores of the usual care and the intervention groups. Also no significant difference was noted between the groups in terms of overall score, time of taking scores and interaction. These findings are attributed to the data being not normally distributed due to the small sample size of the study.

Discussion: This Study supports the need for further research to investigate the impact of preoperative education with the urgent cardiac surgery patient group. The inclusion of relatives in these investigations is encouraged. Future studies should be carried out with a larger sample of participants, as a multiple site investigation, utilising both quantitative and qualitative methods and with a longer follow-up period.

Conclusion: The findings of this study do not support previous research that preoperative education can be effective in reducing anxiety levels. However, this study has shown that the in-hospital waiting period presents a potential opportunity to deliver this preparatory intervention. A conclusion which can be drawn from this is that preoperative education can be incorporated into routine practice to meet these patients’ preoperative care needs. It is suggested this could be achieved through a more coordinated multi-disciplinary approach and a review of current practice.

Item Type:	Thesis/Dissertation (Masters)
Departments:	Academic Departments > Nursing, Health & Professional Practice (NHPP)
Additional Information:	Dissertation submitted in part fulfilment for the MSc in Practice Development.
Depositing User:	Anna Lupton
Date Deposited:	13 Oct 2017 10:52
Last Modified:	12 Jan 2024 18:16
URI:	https://insight.cumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/3303