Anxiety and fear in cardiac surgery pre-operative: nursing intervention in psychosocial approach

This research is aimed at highlighting the importance of feelings such as anxiety and fear in those who are to undergo myocardial revascularization surgery (RM), and the adoption of a psychosocial approach by which a strategy of group intervention is used. Aiming at identifying the levels of anxiety and fear in those patients, a strategy of group guidance during the pre-surgery round was adopted, using a psychosocial approach, comparing the levels of anxiety and fear in those who received traditional institutional guidance, and those who took part in the group guidance pre-surgical session, and also at comprehending the meaning of the pre-surgical guidance in the perception of the intervention group participants. This research is of a quantitative and qualitative nature, and was conducted in a specialized cardio hospital, in the city of Sao Paulo, in the period between April and August 2006. Out of the 109 people approached for assessment, 60 took an effective participation in the study, of which 30 were in the intervention group and 30 in the control group. A controlled, random clinical rehearsal was performed. The data was analyzed statistically and content wise, in accordance to Bardin. With the intervention group, group dynamics were applied so as to promote a relaxing, friendly environment, and allow for the participants’ free expression. Most of the subjects in this group were male, with incomplete lower education, average socio-economic class, and 62,02 years old on average. It was noted that this group subjects had their levels of anxiety and fear lowered, in a statistically significant manner. The dynamics provided them with more than only a playful, expressive moment; they had a cognitive/affectionate, relational significance, through which security and tranquility were achieved, and, as a result, levels of anxiety and fear were reduced. Results indicate that group pre-surgical guidance in a psychosocial approach produces effective results, and is thus recommended for undertaking in hospital.