Symptom management strategies used by elderly patients after coronary artery bypass surgery.
The purpose of this secondary analysis was to describe symptom management strategies used by elderly patients (n = 236) 3 and 6 weeks after coronary artery bypass surgery (CABS). Three weeks after surgery, the most frequently used strategies were rest to manage shortness of breath (53%) and fatigue (53%), medications for incision pain (24%), and repositioning for swelling (35%) and sleep disturbance (18%). Overall, fewer patients experiencing sleep disturbances (39%), incision pain (39%), swelling (46%), and appetite problems (17%) reported using a strategy to manage their symptom. Nurses must assist patients in symptom identification and problem solving to accomplish effective symptom management.
UNMC College of Nursing – Lincoln Division, Commerce Court, Lincoln, NE 68588-0220, USA. pschulz@unmc.edu
Paula S
PS
Schulz
Lani
L
Zimmerman
Bunny
B
Pozehl
Sue
S
Barnason
Janet
J
Nieveen
D000359:Aftercare; D000368:Aged; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D006801:Humans