An analysis of the impact of a management system on patients waiting for cardiac surgery.

The Cardiac Surgery Management System (CSMS) was developed in the Central West region of Ontario to support patients who are waiting for cardiac surgery. This management system provides a consistent mechanism to communicate preoperative information to patients and their families. A questionnaire was developed to analyze the impact of the CSMS on patients waiting for elective surgery in this health region. This descriptive study assesses the patients' perception of the assistance they received preoperatively, through the nurse coordinator. One hundred and fifty study patients were randomly selected from patients who had undergone elective surgery during the previous calendar year and these subjects received questionnaires. The final response rate was 81%. Ninety-three percent of respondents had telephone contact with the coordinator, and 89% of these patients received information/education by mail. Sixty percent of respondents admitted to some degree of anxiety, and 46% of these patients discussed their feelings with the coordinator. Increased levels of anxiety were associated with an increased likelihood of a patient-initiated contact with the coordinator. This contact was associated with decreased levels of anxiety. Patients waiting for surgery demonstrated preoperative anxiety, and opportunities to discuss this should be provided. Patients also feel they benefit from receiving educational material preoperatively. The use of the nurse in an expanded role needs to be maximized, with focus on the nurse as a facilitator for problem solving.