Patients' Needs during Hospitalization in a Cardiac Surgery Unit before and after Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to explore patients' needs and changes to these needs during a hospital stay for coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. METHODS: 70 patients (60 males; mean age = 64.1; SD = 8.9) reported their needs two days before and ten days after CABG surgery using a specifically developed 15-item questionnaire. Student's T-test was used to detect significant differences. RESULTS: Before CABG, patients rated the need for "preparation for surgery", and after CABG the need for "information about the correct handling of drugs", as the most important. The rating of "information about the correct handling of drugs" showed a significant increase after CABG surgery ( T(69) = - 3.46; P < 0.001) and the need for a "letter with the latest scientific information on heart disease" was significantly reduced during this period ( T(69) = 2.07; P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that preparation for surgery should be conducted very carefully without time pressure. Patients should receive more detailed information on prescribed drugs.