Determination of Anxiety Levels of Patients Before and After Coronary Artery By-Pass Graft Surgery: Descriptive Study

Abstract

Objective: The study was conducted to determine the preoperative and postoperative anxiety levels, and their causes, in patients who underwent coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Material and Methods: A total of 111 patients who underwent CABG surgery in the cardiovascular surgery department of a state hospital in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus between August 1, 2019 and August 24, 2020 were included. The patient questionnaire prepared by the researcher and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory were used as data collection tools. Results: The mean preoperative state anxiety (pretest) score of the patients was 44.39±10.12, and the mean trait anxiety (pretest) score was 38.85±7.47. The mean state anxiety (posttest) score after surgery was 44.12±9.02, and the mean trait anxiety (posttest) score was 40.79±6.81. There were no statistically significant differences between the preoperative and postoperative state anxiety scale scores of the patients (p>0.05), and a significant difference was found between the trait anxiety scale scores (p<0.05), and the postoperative trait anxiety scores were found to be high. Conclusion: According to the research results, the patients’ postoperative trait anxiety scale scores were found to be high. During the planning of nursing care process, it can be suggested to address the anxiety levels of the patients, and provide planned training to each patient, and make appropriate nursing interventions to reduce their stress.