Influence of discharge planning on anxiety levels in patients with myocardial infarction

ABSTRACT

Nowadays, myocardial infarction is the second factor of the deaths after accidents and cancers in the world. The coronary artery diseases are stressful for patients. This research was performed to determine the influence of discharge planning on anxiety levels in acute myocardial infarction patients. This quasi-experimental study was performed on 60 patients with acute myocardial infarction at CCU [30 patients in each test and control groups]. The patients in the test group were received both routine intervention in their ward and designed discharge planning program based on the nursing process for 5 educational sessions at the hospital and followed up for 4- weeks in their homes; while, patients in the control group were received only routine intervention in their ward. The anxiety levels in myocardial infarction patients at the beginning of the hospitalization and one month after their discharge was measured by Spill Berger questionnaire. The independent t-test results showed that there is not a significant difference in the situational and total anxiety average scores of the patients in the test and control group before discharge planning. After applying discharge planning, there was a significant difference in the situational and total anxiety average scores of the patients in the test and control group [P<0.05]. Applying discharge planning for the patients with myocardial infarction resulted to decreasing their anxiety levels. Therefore, it suggests that the program of discharge planning to be used as a public plan based on an effective non-drug treatment and inexpensive method for reducing anxiety in patients who are suffering from acute myocardial infarction throughout the country