Two preoperative teaching methods and the preoperative anxiety levels of cardiovascular surgery patients

This experimental study was conducted to determine if there was a difference between the anxiety levels of cardiovascular surgery patients who received preoperative teaching via verbal explanation plus use of audiovisual aids (experimental method), and those who received preoperative teaching via verbal explanation only (traditional method). The conceptual framework was based on Spielberger's (1972) theory of anxiety and Pohl's (1978) conceptualization of the teaching function of the nurse.

The convenience sample consisted of 30 subjects (15 in each group). There were two instruments used: Demographic Data Questionnaire and STAI Form-Y (Spielberger, Gorsuch, & Lushene, 1983). The teaching protocol was developed by the researcher. Using analysis of covariance, a statistically significant decrease in anxiety scores was found for the experimental group (F = 5.63, p =.025).