Fear and anxiety in patients awaiting coronary artery bypass grafting

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to identify the prevalence of fear and anxiety in patients awaiting coronary artery bypass grafting and the f actors associated with high fear and high anxiety. DESIGN: The survery included 240 patients placed on the waiting list for co ronary artery bypass grafting at one hospital. SUBJECTS: Two hundred and seven patients completed the questionnaire. INSTRUMENTS: The Bypass Grafting Fear Scale, the State-Trait Anxiety Invent ory, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale were used. RESULTS: Half of the patients experienced low fear and anxiety. Twenty-five percent had high fear, but only 5% had high anxiety. Patients who felt hig h fear were mainly women, had no vocational education, were on sick leave, were depressed, had a tendency towards anxiety, and had a short wait for op eration. Patients who displayed medium or high anxiety were mostly under 55 years of age and had depression, but only low or no pain. CONCLUSIONS: The results facilitate better identification of predictors of high fear and anxiety as well as direct support and information for those p atients.