Long-term chest wall discomfort in women after coronary artery bypass grafting.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the study was to determine the occurrence of long-term chest wall discomfort in women after coronary artery bypass grafting.


METHODS
Prospective repeated-measures design.


METHODS
Posthospitalization.


METHODS
Fifty-one women who had undergone coronary artery bypass grafting. Data were collected at 12 and 18 months by self-report and data collection instruments.


METHODS
Life Orientation Test, Satisfaction with Life Scale, Profile of Mood States, Sickness Impact Profile, interview schedule, and discomfort scale 0 to 10.


RESULTS
Women who had an internal mammary artery graft had significantly (p = 0.003) more discomfort. Most discomforts were intermittent and did not interfere with daily activities. However, the feelings of numbness and itchiness tended to be continuous.
Rowe
M A
MA
Decker School of Nursing, Binghamton University, NY 13902-6000, USA.
King
K B
KB
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000145:classification / Q000523:psychology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009204:Myocardial Revascularization / Q000523:psychology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012803:Sick Role; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology