Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to describe the nature and intensity of anxiety felt by patients awaiting coronary artery bypass surgery. DESIGN: A prospective, cross-sectional study design was used, with a qualitative interview and State Trait Anxiety Inventory. SETTING: Study took place in 2 large tertiary referral hospitals in Northern Ireland. PARTICIPANTS: Seventy patients were randomly selected within 4 weeks of their referral for cardiac surgery. RESULTS: Participants in this study cited 5 main sources of anxiety: chest pain, uncertainty, fear of the operation, physical incapacity, and dissatisfaction with the care offered to them. The State Trait Anxiety Inventory scores of this sample were high at all stages of data collection. There was a statistically significant relationship (P
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 23-31 |
Journal | Heart & Lung: The Journal of Acute and Critical Care |
Volume | 32 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published (in print/issue) - Jan 2003 |