A Descriptive Study to Assess the Anxiety Level and to Evaluate Its Effect on Physical Symptoms in Cardiac Patients Prior to Cardiac Catheterization and Angiography in Selected Hospitals of Amritsar, With a View to Develop “self-Instructional Module”

Abstract

Background of the study: People often experience a general state of worry, fear, or suspiciousness of being going through some problem, illness, hospitalization, diagnostic procedure, or therapeutic interventions. Before confronting something challenging such as a test, examination, all constitutes anxiety. Anxiety is a general symptom that causes nervousness, fear, apprehension, and worrying. These symptoms affect how person feel and behave, and it is manifested by real physical and physiological symptoms. Anxiety has been shown to lead to high levels of stress, creating delays in recovery and increased length of stay within the hospital. Method and materials: In the present study non experimental research approach was used with descriptive research design to assess the anxiety level and to evaluate its effect on physical symptoms in cardiac patients prior to cardiac catheterization and angiography. Study was conducted in Fortis escorts hospital, Amritsar. In this study, sample consisted of 200 cardiac patients for whom cardiac catheterization and angiography was planned were selected by purposive sampling technique based on inclusion criteria. The anxiety and physical symptoms were assessed 30 minutes prior to cardiac catheterization and angiography. Data were collected by using demographic variables questionnaire and anxiety physical symptoms assessment scale. The maximum score of the anxiety assessment scale was 60 and minimum score was 12 and in physical symptoms each component has maximum score of 5 and minimum score of 1. Results: Shown that highest (31.5%) of the patients belongs to the group of 51–60 years, majority (62.5%) of them were males, (52.5) percentages of the cardiac patients were Sikh and Majority (60%) of them were from urban area. Highest percentage (34%) of cardiac patients had passed matriculation. Highest percentages (52.5%) were unemployed. Around 45% of them undergone cardiac catheterization and 55% of the patents undergone angiography. Highest percentages (55.5%) of the patients were nonhospitalized. Mean score of anxiety (17.97 ± 38.72) which is for the patients with mild anxiety and severe anxiety. Lowest and highest mean score (3.2 ± 4.27) for cardiovascular system and sensory (somatic) was calculated in the area wise assessment of physical symptoms. Maximum association of physical symptoms is seen with the age, gender, and education and environment at the significance level of p ≥ 0.05. Hence, no association was seen between occupation, area of living and type of procedure at the significance level of p ≥ 0.05. Hence, it is concluded that all patients suffer from different levels of anxiety which affects the physical symptoms in patients prior to cardiac catheterization and angiography.