The Relationship Between Anxiety, Pain Distress and Pain Severity Before and After Open Heart Surgery in Patients

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the pain severity, presence of anxiety and pain distress in patients before and after open heart surgery. Material and Methods: The data for the research was collected at the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery in Celal Bayar University Hafsa Sultan Hospital during the office hours through face-to-face interviews between January and June 2012. The study was carried out with 81 patients who were suitable and met the criteria. The data collection form included questions about socio-demographics, pain and disease, and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and Pain Distress Scale. The questionnaire was given to the patients 24 hours before the open heart surgery. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and Pain Distress Scale were administered to the same patients 48 hours after the surgery. Results: The average age of the participants was. (chi) over bar +/- SD=59.5 +/- 8.3. Most were male patients. There was no statistically significant difference between the average scores taken from the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (t=0.6 p>0.05; t=1.0 p>0.05) before and after the surgery. It was observed before the surgery that there was a statistically significant relationship between the average scores taken from the Pain Distress Scale and the severity of pain (r=0.38 p<0.01). Also while statistically significant relationship was found between the average scores taken from the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and Pain Distres Scale both before surgery (r=0.32 p<0.01; r=0.68 p<0.01) and after surgery (r=0.40 p<0.01; r=0.26 p<0.05). Conclusion: The results of the research show that anxiety, which is an emotional state or an individual characteristic, has an important role in pain perception. It is considered that the findings of the research will guide research into reducing the severity and distress of pain.