title: Implementation of a patient-family pathway: effects on patients and families.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: University of Missouri-Columbia Hospitals and Clinics, USA.
authors.forename: K K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Sagehorn
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.forename: L H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Ganong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D019091:Critical Pathways / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009720:Nurse Clinicians / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000523:psychology; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation