Effects of an orientation tour on preoperative anxiety in candidates for coronary artery bypass grafting: A randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND: Candidates for cardiac surgery usually suffer from preoperative anxiety. Although there are various anxiety reduction techniques, it is unclear which one is the most effective. Therefore, the present study was conducted to explore the effects of an orientation tour on preoperative anxiety in candidates for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). METHODS: In this randomized clinical trial study, 70 patients who were candidate for CABG were recruited from February 2016 to May 2017. They were randomly assigned to two groups of 35. The intervention group members were taken on an orientation tour and the control group received routine care. Data were collected using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). RESULTS: The statistical tests revealed that there was no significant difference between the intervention group (42.43 +/- 13.24) and the control group (45.11 +/- 10.19) with respect to the pre-intervention state anxiety level (P = 0.340); however, before surgery, the state anxiety level was significantly lower in the intervention group (34.83 +/- 11.15) than in the control group (47.69 +/- 11.30) (P < 0.001). Moreover, the independent t-test showed that there was no significant difference between the intervention (43.71 +/- 12.04) and control (45.03 +/- 8.76) groups with respect to the pre-intervention trait anxiety level (P = 0.600). Nevertheless, before surgery, the trait anxiety level was significantly lower in the intervention group (35.40 +/- 10.24) than in the control group (46.91 +/- 9.51) (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The preoperative orientation tour had a positive impact on the anxiety level in the candidates for CABG. Hence, the tour can be used as a remarkably effective technique for reducing anxiety.