Relationship between preoperative anxiety and coping strategies in hospitalized patients with ischemic heart candidates for coronary artery bypass grafting

Abstract

Some researchers have studied the relationship between preoperative anxiety and coping styles before anesthesia (but not before surgery) in patients of several specialties (e.g. general surgery and oncology), but this relationship has not been determined in cardiac inpatient candidates for coronary artery bypass grafting. The objective was to determine the relationship of preoperative anxiety and coping styles in hospitalized patients with ischemic heart disease candidates for coronary artery bypass surgery. Before surgery an identification sheet, the Anxiety Inventory State Trait (STAI) and the Coping Inventory injuries and health problems (CHIP) questionnaires were given to patients. A cross-sectional design of exploratory and correlational type was used.62 patients were evaluated, 46.8% showed high preoperative anxiety. The Spearman test showed a positive correlation between the preoperative anxiety and the emotional distress coping strategy (r = .285 p.025), It is highly important to develop programs of psychological intervention to help manage preoperative anxiety and other comorbidity emotional present as well as installing or strengthening adaptive coping strategies before heart surgery.