Date of Award
1988
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts in Education (MAE)
Department
Education
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine if open heart surgery patients and their spouses who receive additional preoperative teaching information exhibit less anxiety than those who receive the information without additional instruction. The sample consisted of 40 male open heart surgery candidates and their wives. Each couple was randomly assigned to one of two groups upon admission. Subjects in one group received the standard method of preoperative teaching by viewing a slide tape presentation. Subjects in the second group were required to view a picture book as well as the slide presentation. Data was collected immediately preceding the treatment and four days following surgery using, Spielberger's (1983) State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). To analyze the data the t-test was used to test for significant differences between the treatment and control groups. The results supported the first hypothesis indicating that the provision of the additional instructional information helped lessen the patient's anxiety. However, the results did not support the second hypothesis, indicating that the reinforcement treatment did not significantly lower the spouses anxiety.
Recommended Citation
Caragianis, Elaine, "An Error of Preoperative Instruction" (1988). Open Access Master's Theses. Paper 1665.
https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/theses/1665
Terms of Use
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