Coronary artery bypass graft surgery patients and their family member caregivers: Outcomes of a family-focused staged psychoeducational intervention

This experimental study examined the effectiveness of a psychoeducational i ntervention delivered over 12 weeks. The sample was comprised of 38 coronar y artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery patient-family member caregiver dyads who completed all six data collection points. Experimental and control grou ps did not differ in emotional health, functional health status, or satisfa ction. Differences in the number of self-reported complications/symptoms we re not in the predicted direction. Improvement occurred in clinical, functi onal, and emotional outcomes; however, several symptoms, such as fatigue an d pain, persisted. Family caregivers reported more depressive symptoms than patients preoperatively and at later stages of recovery. Implications incl ude the need for instruction about the recovery trajectory and adequate pre paration and support of home health nurses and family caregivers. Copyright (C) 2000 by W.B. Saunders Company.