LONG-TERM CHEST-WALL DISCOMFORT IN WOMEN AFTER CORONARY-ARTERY BYPASS-GRAFTING

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to determine the occurrence of long-term chest wall discomfort in women after coronary artery bypass grafting. DESIGN: Prospective repeated-measures design. SETTING: Post hospitalization. SAMPLE: Fifty-one women who had undergone coronary ar tery bypass grafting. Data were collected at 12 and 18 months by self- report and data collection instruments. INSTRUMENTS: Life Orientation Test, Satisfaction with Life Scale, Profile of Mood States, Sickness I mpact Profile, interview schedule, and discomfort scale 0 to 10. RESUL TS: Women who had an internal mammary artery graft had significantly ( p = 0.003) more dis comfort. Most discomforts were intermittent and di d not interfere with daily activities. However, the feelings of numbne ss and itchiness tended to be continuous.