Pre-procedural and post-procedural anxiety among relatives of coronary angiography patients

Abstract

Introduction

As the heart is a vital organ, diagnostic and therapeutic heart procedures can cause fear and anxiety not only in patients, but also among their relatives.

Objectives

This is a descriptive study conducted to determine pre-procedural and post-procedural coronary angiography anxiety among patients’ relatives.

Methods

The relatives of 141 coronary angiography patients were included in the study. A personal information form and Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory were used for data collection.

Results

The average age of the patients’ relatives who participated in the study was 44.64 ± 13.22 years. 85.8% of the study participants were married and 61.0% were first-degree relatives of the patients. It was found that patients’ relatives had a moderate level of pre-procedural anxiety (mean = 53.333 ± 15.678), and that they had a low level of post-procedural anxiety (mean = 37.184 ± 18.528). State anxiety scores were higher among relatives who were married, and among those related to a patient who underwent a diagnostic procedure and previously underwent coronary surgery. Post-procedural state anxiety scores were higher among participants related to a patient who was recommended to undergo by-pass.

Conclusion

It was found that pre-procedural anxiety was higher than post-procedural anxiety among the relatives of patients who underwent coronary angiography. Therefore, prior to angiography, patients’ relatives should be informed about the procedure, and efforts should be made to reduce their anxiety.