Objectives: To describe, compare and examine self-reported anxiety levels and associated physiological responses of blood pressure, heart rate and respiratory rate of patients undergoing cardiac catheterisation (CATH).
Methods: Repeated measure design was used to assess a sample of 100 patients who had undergone cardiac catheterisation (CATH) in a major specialised heart institute in Jordan.
Results: Patients' anxiety levels differed significantly across the three time periods (baseline, prior to and post CATH). The mean anxiety levels prior to CATH scored with State Anxiety Inventory (M = 52.14, SD = 6.0) was significantly higher than that at baseline (M = 48.35, SD = 5.6) and post CATH (M = 36.27, SD = 9.7).
Conclusion: Most patients experienced anxiety when scheduled for a CATH. The highest level of anxiety was within two hours prior to the procedure and the lowest was post procedure.
Keywords: Cardiac catheterisation / Anxiety / Cardiac disease / Perioperative care.