• Claudia Heilmann, Ulrike Stotz, Christina Burbaum, Johanna Feuchtinger, Rainer Leonhart, Matthias Siepe, Friedhelm Beyersdorf, and Kurt Fritzsche.
• Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Heart Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
• J Clin Nurs. 2016 Feb 1; 25 (3-4): 351-61.

Aims And ObjectivesThe 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.BackgroundAnxiety 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.Design And MethodsPatients 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.ResultsSignificantly 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.ConclusionsOur 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.Relevance To Clinical PracticeThese results advocate training for nurses and physicians to provide emotional support to patients before coronary artery bypass grafting.© 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

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