Implementation of a patient-family pathway: effects on patients and families

The purpose of this study was to discover whether implementation of a patient-family pathway with patients and families undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery impacted anxiety, information with care planning, and patient length of stay. Using an experimental design, a sample of 60 patients and family members was studied. Each patient and his or her designated family member received either the patient-family pathway or the hospital's standard care planning. Findings indicated no statistically significant differences in state anxiety or information with care planning between patients and family members receiving the patient-family pathway and those receiving standard care planning. There was no statistically significant difference in length of stay between the two patient groups. The results indicate that the CABG patient-family pathway has limited value to patients and families as measured in this study. Resources can be real-located to other uses that may have a more positive impact on the patient and family experience.