The effects of a discharge information intervention on recovery outcomes following coronary artery bypass surgery.

This quasi-experimental study tested the effects of a discharge information intervention on physical and psychological outcomes 1 month following coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG). Recovery outcomes were compared between two groups of patients: those receiving an audiotape of information focusing on expected physical symptoms and their management in addition to usual care, and those receiving a usual cardiac discharge information protocol. The nonprobability sample of 82 patients were men and women and had a mean age of 64 years. The outcome measurements included psychological distress, measured by the Profile of Mood States, and physical functioning, measured by the Sickness Impact Profile. The audiotape intervention produced positive effects on physical functioning [F(1,80) = 6.37, p < 0.01]; the effects were maintained when age and post-operative length of stay were statistically controlled. No differences in psychological distress were found. Findings suggest that audiotapes containing discharge information about expected recovery experiences are a feasible and effective approach to enhancing the physical recovery of CABG patients.