A Systematic Review of CABG Educational Interventions

Background: Although there are many approaches in providing discharge education to coronary artery bypass patients, an overwhelming number of patients are readmitted to the hospital within 60 days’ post discharge. Education provided prior to surgery and discharge may prove beneficial in decreasing the rate of readmissions in this population.

Objectives: In post cardiac surgery patients, does an educational intervention compared to no educational intervention affect hospital readmission rates within 60 days? A secondary aim was to evaluate whether or not an educational intervention affects hospital readmission rates within 60 days of discharge.

Method: Seven studies were evaluated for the use of education pre and post discharge for the cardiac surgery population. Studies with pediatric patients were excluded from the systematic review.

Results: Seven studies met the inclusion criteria. The main focus of the studies contained types of education delivered by advanced practice nurses or specially trained nurses and were timed either preoperatively, upon discharge or post discharge. Five of the interventions demonstrated positive results and two demonstrated significant statistical evidence.

Discussion: A review of seven studies demonstrated that education is valuable for this population but may need delivery in a different format and at different times to meet client educational needs. The use of pre discharge education did demonstrate a reduction in anxiety and increased self care abilities of these patients. Although the approaches differed, the common thread is the need for education delivered at the appropriate time at an understandable level for patients.

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Kalogianni, Antonia, Almpani, Panagiota, Vastardis, Leonidas, Baltopoulos, Charitos, Christos, & Brokalaki, Hero. (2015). Can nurse led preoperative education reduce anxiety and postoperative complications of patients undergoing cardiac surgery? European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, 1-12. doi:10.1177/1474515115602678