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Significant others benefit from preoperative information
E H Raleigh1, M Lepczyk, C Rowley
1University of Michigan School of Nursing, Ann Arbor 48109.
Journal of Advanced Nursing
|August 1, 1990
Summary
Family members experience high anxiety before cardiac surgery. Preoperative education significantly reduces this anxiety, improving their understanding of the procedure.
Area of Science:
- Nursing
- Psychology
- Cardiology
Background:
- Family members often experience heightened anxiety compared to patients before surgery.
- Limited research exists on the preoperative needs of families undergoing cardiac surgery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the knowledge and anxiety levels of spouses and significant others of patients undergoing cardiac surgery.
- To assess the impact of preoperative education on the anxiety and knowledge of these family members.
Main Methods:
- Convenience sampling of participants from a preoperative class for cardiac surgery.
- Administration of cardiac-surgery knowledge and anxiety tests before and after the educational class.
Main Results:
- Significant others reported higher anxiety levels than patients before the preoperative class.
- Post-class anxiety levels for significant others were significantly reduced.
- No significant differences in cardiac surgery knowledge were found between patients and significant others.
Conclusions:
- Preoperative educational classes can effectively reduce anxiety in family members of cardiac surgery patients.
- Family members, particularly spouses and significant others, benefit from targeted preoperative instruction.
- Integrating family-centered care into preoperative protocols is recommended for cardiac surgery patients.