Pre Operative Stress and Anxiety in Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery Counselled with Structured Versus Traditional Programme
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Abstract
Background: Cardiovascular disease is one of the major public health problems that causes restricted quality of life, disability, and mortality, with high costs for the healthcare system. Cardiac surgery is a stressful life event for many patients. Failure to adapt to such a procedure leads to increased physical and psychological impairment such as anxiety, fear, depression, and pain. The aim of this study is to compare pre-operative stress and anxiety in patients undergoing cardiac surgery, counselled with structured vs traditional teaching programme. Methods: This is a quasi-experimental, single blinded two group pre and post-test design study done in the Department of Cardiothoracic and vascular surgery, Government Medical College, Kottayam. 120 patients (60 in each group) admitted in the wards in Government Medical College, Kottayam with CABG and valve disease were included in the study. The data was collected by a structured proforma and frequency, mean, median and standard deviation are used to assess the socio demographic variables and preoperative stress and anxiety among control and experimental groups. Comparison of two groups performed by t test and χ2 test Population. Results: In the present study it was found that structured teaching programme was effective in significant decrease of pre-operative stress and anxiety among patients undergoing cardiac surgery in the experimental group. Statistically significant reduction in anxiety and depression after preoperative structured teaching was found. Conclusion: We require more studies that are necessary to assess which mode of intervention is beneficial for patients and at what conditions. It is important to treat mind along with heart to get better outcomes after cardiac surgery.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Dr. Siva Ramaratnam, Dr. Sivaprasad V, Dr. Ravikrishnan J

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Dr. Siva Ramaratnam, Senior Resident, Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, Government Medical College, Kottayam, Kerala, India.
Senior Resident, Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, Government Medical College, Kottayam, Kerala, India.
Dr. Sivaprasad V, Associate Professor, Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, Government Medical College, Kottayam, Kerala, India.
Associate Professor, Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, Government Medical College, Kottayam, Kerala, India.
Dr. Ravikrishnan J, Associate Professor, Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, Government Medical College, Kottayam, Kerala, India.
Associate Professor, Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, Government Medical College, Kottayam, Kerala, India.
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