Fear and anxiety in patients awaiting coronary artery bypass grafting.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to identify the prevalence of fear and anxiety in patients awaiting coronary artery bypass grafting and the factors associated with high fear and high anxiety.


METHODS
The survey included 240 patients placed on the waiting list for coronary artery bypass grafting at one hospital.


METHODS
Two hundred and seven patients completed the questionnaire.


METHODS
The Bypass Grafting Fear Scale, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale were used.


RESULTS
Half of the patients experienced low fear and anxiety. Twenty-five percent had high fear, but only 5% had high anxiety. Patients who felt high fear were mainly women, had no vocational education, were on sick leave, were depressed, had a tendency towards anxiety, and had a short wait for operation. Patients who displayed medium or high anxiety were mostly under 55 years of age and had depression, but only low or no pain.


CONCLUSIONS
The results facilitate better identification of predictors of high fear and anxiety as well as direct support and information for those patients.
Koivula
M
M
Department of Nursing Science, University of Tampere, Finland.
Paunonen-Ilmonen
M
M
Tarkka
M T
MT
Tarkka
M
M
Laippala
P
P
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D004522:Educational Status; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005239:Fear / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D017678:Sex Distribution; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014850:Waiting Lists