State and trait anxiety levels before coronary angiography

AIM: To investigate the factors that are related to increased anxiety before elective coronary angiography. BACKGROUND: Anxiety before coronary angiography is an important factor for complications. To know the factors for increased anxiety, it is important for nurse to prevent complications. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study design was used. The study included 88 consecutive patients waiting for coronary angiography. Methods. A data-collecting form, which included questions about demographic features, health history and angiography, was completed by the participants on the day of coronary angiography. The level of state and trait anxiety was measured by Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Multivariate Analysis was performed to disclose the independency of the relation between state anxiety and factors. RESULTS: Both trait and state anxiety levels were found to be moderate (age = 46, SD = 9, 24-67 years and age = 40, SD = 10, 21-65 years, respectively). There was a significant relation between state and trait anxiety levels (r = 0.56, p < 0.001). Among the investigated factors, only the trait anxiety (p < 0.001) and time on waiting list (p = 0.020) were found to be independent. For predicting high level of state anxiety, the cut-off value of trait anxiety was found to be 48 with a sensitivity of 67% and specificity of 67% and cut-off value of time on waiting list was found to be seven days with a sensitivity of 83% and specificity of 52%. CONCLUSIONS: The time on waiting list and trait anxiety levels are the most important factors for state anxiety level. To prevent high level of coronary angiography-related anxiety, those patients with trait anxiety level >48 and time on waiting list >7 days should be managed specifically. The preventive measures should be specifically focused on the connection between state and trait anxiety. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Nursing planning should be focused on patients especially those on a long-time waiting list and on patients with high trait anxiety level prior to coronary intervention.