Symptom management strategies used by elderly patients after coronary artery bypass surgery

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

The purpose of this secondary analysis was to describe symptom management strategies used by elderly patients (n = 236) 3 and 6 weeks after coronary artery bypass surgery (CABS). Three weeks after surgery, the most frequently used strategies were rest to manage shortness of breath (53%) and fatigue (53%), medications for incision pain (24%), and repositioning for swelling (35%) and sleep disturbance (18%). Overall, fewer patients experiencing sleep disturbances (39%), incision pain (39%), swelling (46%), and appetite problems (17%) reported using a strategy to manage their symptom. Nurses must assist patients in symptom identification and problem solving to accomplish effective symptom management.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)65-73
Number of pages9
JournalApplied Nursing Research
Volume24
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2011

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Nursing(all)

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Symptom management strategies used by elderly patients after coronary artery bypass surgery'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this