The effect of a preoperative spiritual/religious intervention on anxiety in Shia Muslim patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery: a randomized controlled trial.
BACKGROUND
Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is associated with anxiety. Preoperative anxiety is considered a predictor for a range of suboptimal postsurgical outcomes.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of a spiritual/religious training intervention on anxiety in Shia Muslim individuals scheduled for CABG.


METHODS
A randomized controlled trial of a preoperative spiritual/religious training intervention, congruent with Islamic supplication (Zikr), was administered in five sessions of 45 minutes duration to test the impact on anxiety in comparison with standard care. Seventy participants were selected based on inclusion criteria and randomly allocated to treatment and control groups. Baseline levels of anxiety and the impact of the intervention were assessed using the Persian version of the Hamilton Anxiety Scale.


RESULTS
Baseline characteristics were comparable between the intervention and control groups. Following the intervention, there was a statistically significant difference in anxiety mean scores between intervention (19.48 ± 2.03) and control groups (43.27 ± 5.49), p < .001.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrates that preoperative spiritual/religious training can reduce anxiety in Muslim patients undergoing CABG. Further evaluation of this intervention in other population groups is warranted and the study underscores the importance of culturally appropriate and interventions.
University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran. mahmaimy@yahoo.com
Mohammadali
M
Hosseini
Alireza
A
Salehi
Masoud
M
Fallahi Khoshknab
Asghar
A
Rokofian
Patricia Mary
PM
Davidson
D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000523:psychology*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007514:Islam; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000523:psychology*; D057234:Preoperative Period; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012068:Religion and Medicine; D029181:Spirituality; D055815:Young Adult
anxiety; coronary artery bypass grafting, CABG; religious; spiritual