title: Short-term intervention to reduce anxiety before coronary artery bypass surgery--a randomised controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate an intervention with individualised information and emotional support before coronary artery bypass grafting in a controlled randomised trial.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Anxiety is a typical phenomenon in patients who are to undergo cardiac surgery. Preoperative anxiety has been shown to correlate to adverse postoperative outcomes. Emotional support could be an effective measure to reduce preoperative anxiety.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with planned first coronary artery bypass grafting were randomised into an intervention group (n = 139) and a control group (n = 114). The patients of the control group were routinely informed as usual. The patients of the intervention group received a dialogue with individualised information and emotional support one day before surgery in addition to standard care. This intervention of ~30 minutes was based on a supportive psychotherapy model and was delivered by trained nurses. The primary outcome was the change in anxiety before operation. The secondary outcomes consisted of changes in postoperative anxiety, time on intensive care unit and in-hospital mortality.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significantly reduced anxiety was found in the intervention group patients compared to control patients before coronary artery bypass grafting (p < 0·001) and five days after surgery (p < 0·001). Both groups did not differ in in-hospital mortality and duration of stay in the intensive care unit.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our short-term psychosocial intervention in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting had a beneficial effect on reducing pre- and postoperative anxiety that was better than routine information alone.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results advocate training for nurses and physicians to provide emotional support to patients before coronary artery bypass grafting.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Heart Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Heilmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Stotz
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Burbaum
authors.affiliation: Quality and Development in Nursing Care, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Johanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Feuchtinger
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Rainer
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Leonhart
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Heart Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Siepe
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Heart Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Friedhelm
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Beyersdorf
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Kurt
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fritzsche
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001007:Anxiety / Q000451:nursing / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009736:Nursing Process; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000451:nursing; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: coronary artery bypass grafting; preoperative anxiety; psychosocial intervention; randomised controlled clinical trial