The Effect of Home Care Training on Anxiety and Vital Signs Levels in Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Patients: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

PURPOSE

Patients after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) require special care at home, and not being aware of this need before surgery can result in anxiety. This study aimed to determine the effect of home care training on the level of anxiety and vital signs in CABG patients.

DESIGN

The study was a randomized clinical trial study.

METHODS

The study included 80 patients undergoing CABG surgery in January 2020. Samples were selected by convenience sampling and were randomly divided into intervention and control groups. The control group received only routine training, whereas the intervention group received two additional training sessions on home care. Data were collected using the Spielberger situational anxiety questionnaire and a checklist of vital signs, and then analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.

FINDINGS

Results showed that before the intervention, the mean anxiety scores, heart rate, respiratory rate, temperature, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure between the two groups were not significantly different (P > .05). However, after the intervention, the mean anxiety score, heart rate, respiratory rate, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure in the intervention group was significantly (P < .05) lower than the control group, but the mean temperature of the two groups showed no significant difference (P > .05).

CONCLUSIONS

Home care training before surgery reduces anxiety and improves vital signs. The use of home care training before surgery is recommended for this patient population.