Effectiveness of Nursing Orientation for the Reduction of Anxiety and Stress

This study´s objective was to identify the effectiveness of nursing orientation for the reduction of anxiety and stress of patients that was waiting cardiac catheterization. Method. This is a randomized clinical trial. The sample consisted of patients that was waiting cardiac catheterization who were divided into two groups: intervention group (patients who received nursing orientation with a validated guidance manual about this procedure) and control group (patients who received the routine nursing orientation). The subjects were consulted about the desire to participate, and those who agreed, signed the consent form. The patients were randomized to one of two groups (control or intervention), according to the sequence determined by the Random System. Randomization was carried out by a teacher who did not participate of any phase of this study. After randomization, the patients were instructed how to fill out the instruments. The primary end points were the anxiety and stress, which was evaluated in two moments (before and after the nursing orientation). The State Anxiety Inventory (STAI-state) was used to assess anxiety and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) was used to assess stress. Subsequent to this first evaluation, the patients, both in the control group and in the intervention group, received the intervention by another profissional. After the patients were evaluated about anxiety and stress. Prior to the collection, the research project was submitted to the Research Ethics Committee and the data was collected after its approval.

Inclusion criteria

• Minimum 18 years
• Literate
• Stable patients in Killip I and II
• Maximum 79 years

Exclusion criteria

• Hemodynamic instability
• Precordial pain
• Patients who undergo emergency cardiac catheterization
• Patients with visual deficit and / or with some alteration of the level of consciousness
• Patients using benzodiazepine, anxiolytic and / or herbal medicines
• Situations that patient received orientation about the procedure prior to initiation of the current hospitalization survey and / or when reporting that they do not wish to receive information.