Family Empathic Behaviour Versus Nurse Empathic Behaviour
Family Empathic Behaviour Versus Nurse Empathic Behaviour
The objective was to compare the frequency and intensity of symptoms of anxiety in patients
 of preoperative cardiac surgery who received empathic behaviour from nurse or family or those
 who received no specific type of empathic behaviour. This is a randomized clinical trial. The
 sample consisted of 66 patients in preoperative of cardiac surgery, who were divided in three
 groups: empathic behaviour by nurses, without specific empathic behaviour and by family.
 Anxiety was assessed at two time points: before and after the intervention. The instrument
 used was developed and validated, comprising 19 defining characteristics of the nursing
 diagnosis anxiety. The hypothesis is that the group who received empathic behaviour from
 nurse or family will reduce the anxiety.
Primary outcome is anxiety. Anxiety was assessed by a nurse using of an instrument developed
 and validated previous, based on 19 defining characteristics described by NANDA-International
 for the nursing diagnosis anxiety: verbalization of fear (expressed concern); apprehension,
 nervousness, tension, restlessness, anxiety, anxious, insomnia, abnormal respiratory rate,
 increased pulse, dry mouth, increased perspiration, fatigue, cranky; voice / ends trembling,
 chest / abdominal pain, urinary urgency, nausea, and vomiting.

 Patients were evaluated for the presence and absence of these anxiety symptoms through
 scores: 0 (no symptom) and 1 (presence of symptom). For analysis of the results was carried
 out the sum of the scores of each symptom, ranging from 0 to 21, with the higher the score,
 the greater was the anxiety symptoms presented by the patient.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Patients older than 18 years;

 -  Literate;

 -  Patient who agreed to participate in the study by signing the consent form at least 24
 hours prior to surgery.

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Patients with a history of surgery;

 -  Patients in preoperative cardiac transplantation;

 -  Patients who did not have at least two defining characteristics of the nursing
 diagnosis anxiety;

 -  Patients using anxiolytics;

 -  Smokers and / or patients who drank any amount of alcohol daily.