Effects of preoperative education on environmental stressors perceived by the patient in patients cardiac surgery: A randomized controlled study

Background and Aim: This study aimed to determine the effect of education given to patients before cardiac surgery on the environmental stressors perceived by patients in the intensive care unit. Materials and Methods: This randomized controlled study was conducted with 64 patients who underwent cardiac surgery in the Cardiovascular Surgery Service of Trakya University Hospital between November 2023 and August 2024. The study data were collected with the 'Patient Information Form', 'Intensive Care Unit Environmental Stressors Scale' and 'Patient Satisfaction Form'. The data were evaluated with descriptive statistics, Independent sample t-test, Chi-Square analysis, and Mann-Whitney U test in the SPSS 22.0 program. p<0.05 values were considered statistically significant. Results: Patients in the experimental group who received preoperative education reported lower mean scores on the Intensive Care Unit Environmental Stressors Scale compared to those in the control group who received standard care. The three most significant stressors for the experimental group were being connected to tubes, thirst, and pain. In contrast, the top three stressors for the control group were being connected to tubes, thirst, and difficulty sleeping. Conclusion: It was determined that patients in the experimental group had a better overall experience regarding stress management in the intensive care unit.Preoperative education was found to be a method to reduce the perception of environmental stressors in the intensive care unit after open heart surgery and was welcomed by patients. It is recommended that preoperative education by surgical nurses should be used as an effective and safe nursing intervention to reduce the perception of environmental stressors in the intensive care unit of patients undergoing open heart surgery.