A pilot study using a newly devised manual in a programme of education and support for patients waiting for coronary artery bypass surgery.
BACKGROUND
Cardiac rehabilitation programmes are widely accepted as being of benefit to patients with cardiac disease. The time spent waiting for cardiac surgery can be extremely stressful but can be used to address risk factors and provide information to reduce anxiety and prepare the patient for surgery.


OBJECTIVE
To pilot the usefulness of a manual for pre-operative cardiac surgical patients, and assess the feasibility and usefulness to both nurses and patients of a monthly education and support programme for patients waiting for cardiac surgery.


METHODS
A pilot study of 42 patients followed up for 3 months. Research tools included patient questionnaires and telephone interviews, risk factor measurements and nurse focus groups.


RESULTS
Nurses and patients evaluated the manual and overall programme favourably, although the nurses found it was very labour intensive. Changes to risk factors made during the study were small but patients valued the opportunity to raise questions which fell into the categories of medical concerns, hospital procedure and risk factors.


CONCLUSIONS
The manual is a useful tool for patients waiting for cardiac surgery. The programme is useful and feasible but could be targeted more specifically to patients with raised risk factors.
Goodman
Helen
H
Nursing Research Department/Cardiac Surgical Unit, Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Trust, Sydney Street, London SW3 6NP, UK. hgoodman@rbh.nthames.nhs.uk
Peters
Emma
E
Matthews
Rachel
R
Geraghty
Ann
A
Godden
Joy
J
Shuldham
Caroline
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000193:education* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D008131:London; D008297:Male; D008370:Manuals as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009720:Nurse Clinicians / Q000523:psychology; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013664:Teaching Materials / Q000592:standards*; D014850:Waiting Lists