1Associate Professor, Medical Surgical Nursing, AECS Pavan College of Nursing, Bangalore, Chennai by-pass Road, P.C. Halli Extention, Pavan Nagar, Kolar, Karnataka
2Reader, Medical Surgical Nursing, Annamalai University, Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, India
3Reader, Biostatistician, Annamalai University, Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, India
Online published on 1 August, 2014.
Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) surgery is one of the golden treatment for coronary artery disease. Patients undergoing CABG surgery typically experiences various types of stress. Greater fear or distress prior to surgery is associated with a slower and more complicated postoperative recovery1. So, the nurses are in a key position to assess stress among patients undergoing CABG surgery, to assist them to identify high-risk periods of stress, and implement stress management strategies that can prevent the negative consequences of stress on their health.
The aim of the present study is to assess the level perceived stress among coronary artery disease patients subjected to CABG surgery.
A descriptive study was carried out at Frontier Life Line hospital, Chennai among coronary artery disease patients before undergoing CABG surgery. Totally 137 patients between 30 and 60 years of age and admitted for elective CABG surgery at least one day prior surgery were selected for this study. The subjects were selected using convenient sampling technique. A Lazarus Stress Scale was used to assess the level of stress. The scale has seven domains which is stress related physiological, psychological, marital, financial, family, social and job aspects.
Majority of the patient had severe physiological and psychological stress. Financial and job related stress are in moderate level.
Nurses working in the cardiology unit should assess the level of stress of CAD patient before undergoing CABG surgery is a valuable one in preparing patient for surgery.
