Non-pharmacological strategies to decrease anxiety in cardiac catheterization: integrative review.

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Psychology
• Evidence-based Practice

Background:

• Cardiac catheterization is an invasive procedure associated with significant patient anxiety.
• Anxiety can negatively impact patient outcomes and tolerance of the procedure.
• Non-pharmacological interventions offer a promising avenue for anxiety management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and identify non-pharmacological strategies for reducing anxiety in patients undergoing cardiac catheterization.
• To synthesize findings on the efficacy and application of these interventions.

Main Methods:

• An integrative literature review was conducted.
• Searches were performed across major databases including LILACS, SciELO, Medline, and Scopus.
• Included studies were analyzed based on objectives, methods, anxiety assessment tools, and outcomes.

Main Results:

• Music therapy emerged as the most frequently utilized non-pharmacological strategy.
• Educational videos, massage, and palm therapy were also identified as anxiety-reducing interventions.
• Optimal timing for interventions (pre-procedure, intra-procedure, post-procedure) remains underexplored.

Conclusions:

• Non-pharmacological strategies are effective in mitigating anxiety associated with cardiac catheterization.
• Further research is needed to establish best practices and timing for these interventions.