title: Psychosocial aspects associated with pain perception in individuals undergoing coronary surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify the psychological factors that influence post-surgery pain perception in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG).
  
  
  METHODS
  This was an exploratory correlational study of 91 patients (71 men and 20 women) who underwent CABG (aortocoronary anastomosis) by sternotomy. Mean age was 63.8 + 9.6 years (between 39 and 84). The following instruments were used: visual analogical scales at 24, 48 and 96 hours of post-surgery; demographic characteristics survey; pain expectations scale; perceived support scale; self-efficacy scale, Mental Inventory (5 items); health perception scale; and satisfaction with treatment, doctors and nurses (American Pain Society questionnaire) at 96 hours after surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients who had presented high expectations of pain, perceived more support, presented high levels of self-efficacy to deal with pain or were male, felt less pain. Furthermore, patients who presented better mental health, perceived their general health as being good, or expressed greater satisfaction with treatment, felt less pain. Pain was not influenced by age, level of education or satisfaction with doctors and nurses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  After the first 48 hours following surgery, the pain experience is influenced by psychosocial factors, in particular by expectation of pain and of self-efficacy, perceived support, perception of general and mental health, and satisfaction with pain treatment. The results confirm the need to bring together different kinds of knowledge for a broad, multidisciplinary approach to postoperative CABG pain treatment, focusing, along with other aspects, on management of patients' expectations.
authors.affiliation: Escola Superior de Tecnologia de Saúde de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal. nave.leal@netcabo.pt
authors.forename: Elisabete Nave
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Leal
authors.forename: José Luís Pais
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.forename: Mário Martins
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Roquette
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000523:psychology*; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D010465:Perception