Coronary artery bypass graft surgery patients and their family member caregivers: Outcomes of a family-focused staged psychoeducational intervention

This experimental study examined the effectiveness of a psychoeducational intervention delivered over 12 weeks. The sample was comprised of 38 coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery patient-family member caregiver dyads who completed all six data collection points. Experimental and control groups did not differ in emotional health, functional health status, or satisfaction. Differences in the number of self-reported complications/symptoms were not in the predicted direction. Improvement occurred in clinical, functional, and emotional outcomes; however, several symptoms, such as fatigue and pain, persisted. Family caregivers reported more depressive symptoms than patients preoperatively and at later stages of recovery. Implications include the need for instruction about the recovery trajectory and adequate preparation and support of home health nurses and family caregivers. Copyright © 2000 by W.B. Saunders Company