Postoperative care and expectations of self-efficacy in life after discharge in adult patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the self-efficacy levels after discharge and the perceptions of care services related to chronic diseases in patients who underwent coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery and applied to the Cardiovascular Surgery Outpatient Clinic of Adana University of Health Sciences. Materials and Methods: The study sample consisted of individuals aged 18 years and over who had undergone bypass surgery and visited the outpatient clinic within a three-month period. The study was completed with 155 participants. Data were collected using a sociodemographic information form, the Barnason Perceived Effectiveness Expectation Scale: Cardiac Surgery Version (BEES-CS), and the Patient Assessment of Chronic Illness Care (PACIC) scale. Data were gathered through face-to-face interviews. For data analysis, Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, T-test, Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis test, Bonferroni test, Games-Howell test, and Spearman correlation tests were used. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The mean age of the 155 participants was 64.58±9.89 years (range: 40-94). A positive, moderate, and statistically significant correlation was found between the total BEES-CS and PACIC scores (r=0.306, p<0.001). A weak, negative, and statistically significant correlation was found between the total BEES-CS score and age (r=-0.220, p=0.006). A statistically significant difference was found between the BEES-CS total score and history of hospitalization as well as general health status, whereas no significant difference was observed based on whether participants had visited a doctor for their chronic condition in the past six months. Regarding PACIC total scores, no statistically significant differences were found based on age, gender, marital status, education level, economic status, or employment status; however, a statistically significant difference was observed with respect to social insurance status. Conclusion: High levels of perceived self-efficacy in the postoperative period is an important factor that positively affects health behaviors. Within the scope of primary care chronic disease management practices, patient education increases individuals' self-management skills. Keywords: Family medicine, chronic disease management, self-efficacy