Resuscitation training for cardiac patients and their relatives--its effect on anxiety.
It is feared by many doctors that teaching basic life support (BLS) to high risk cardiac patients or a member of the family increases their anxiety. We trained a group of patients with recurrent ventricular tachycardia in BLS together with a friend or family member. Measurement of anxiety before and three months after training demonstrated a reduction in anxiety in both groups. This suggests that basic life support training can be targeted to high risk groups without fear of increasing anxiety.
McLauchlan
C A
CA
Department of Accident and Emergency Medicine, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, UK.
Ward
A
A
Murphy
N M
NM
Griffith
M J
MJ
Skinner
D V
DV
Camm
A J
AJ
D001007:Anxiety; D001294:Attitude to Health; D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / Q000193:education*; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D017180:Tachycardia, Ventricular / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*