Effect ofhealth education program on the depression of patients after coronary artery bypass surgery

Depression is reported as a side effect of coronary artery bypass graft surgery and is associated with an elevated risk of mortality and morbidity. This study aimed to assess the protection effect of health education on this disease.
Materials and Methods:In this quasi-experimental study conducted in 2007, 54 patients were selected following bypass surgery in the Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Center. The patients were randomly assigned into the intervention and control groups. In addition to Cardiac Depression Scale Inventory, the researcher-made questionnaires were employed to evaluate the patients’ knowledge, attitude, skills and self-helping behaviors before and after the study. The education planning program contained nine training sessions (60 to 90 minutes each) educational sessions per week. The follow up procedure took 2 months following the program. Data analysis was carried out using SPSS software and t², independent-t and Mann-Whitney tests.
Results: After presenting educational intervention, the mean score of knowledge, attitude, skills and self-helping behaviors increased significantly (P<0.001). The mean score of depression showed no significant difference in two groups before education while this dropped significantly in the intervention group after education compared to the control group (P<0.001). Here, there was a significant difference (P<0.001) in self-judgment, mood, hopelessness and exhaustion dimensions in two groups.
Conclusion:The findings of the study revealed that health education program is significantly effective in enhancing preventive behaviors and decreasing depression level in patients recovered from coronary artery bypass surgery.