Objective

To determine the efficacy of a psychoeducational nursing intervention in patients who receive coronary artery bypass graft and valve repair surgery.

Design

A cluster-randomized controlled trial design.

Setting

Two hospitals in the western United States--a large community hospital with an active cardiovascular surgery practice and a health-sciences research center.

Subjects

156 patients between 25 and 75 years of age, 125 (81.1%) men, and 31 (19.9%) women, all with primary care givers.

Outcome measures

Self-efficacy expectations, activities (behavior performance), quality of life, mood state.

Intervention

Supplemental in-hospital education followed by telephone contact from discharge to eighth week after discharge.

Results

Patients in the experimental group reported significantly greater self-efficacy expectations for walking and behavior performance for walking, lifting, climbing stairs, general exertion and, where applicable, for working.

Conclusion

This trial suggests that a low-intensity psychoeducational nursing intervention can promote self-efficacy expectations for walking in recovery and is associated with more self-reported walking and lifting behavior after cardiac surgery.