The effects of a telephone-based orientation program, delivered during the waiting time, on anxiety in patients undergoing coronary angiography

Abstract

Background: Anxiety is one of the consequences of hospitalisation for diagnostic–therapeutic procedures, especially in coronary angiography. Studies have shown that interventions when patients are admitted to hospital can reduce anxiety but no research has been carried out on the effects of interventions before patients are admitted. This study aimed to investigate the effects of a telephone-based orientation program, delivered during the waiting time, on
anxiety in patients undergoing coronary angiography.

Materials and methods: In this clinical trial, 70 patients who were candidates for coronary angiography in an urban region of Iran were selected and randomly assigned to the intervention and control groups. The control group received routine care. In contrast, the intervention group received an orientation program via telephone during the waiting time in the weeks leading up to the procedure, in addition to routine care. The data was collected using the Spielberger State–Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) to assess patient anxiety at the time of admission, one hour before angiography and two hours after the procedure.

Results: There was a significant difference between the two groups in the mean scores of anxiety at admission, one hour before angiography and two hours after the procedure. The mean score of anxiety was lower in the intervention group than in the control group.

Conclusions: A telephone-based orientation program could be used when patients are waiting to have the procedure as a strategy for reducing anxiety in patients undergoing coronary angiography.