The effects of peer-led education on anxiety of the family caregivers of patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) in Shahid Chamran center Isfahan University of Medical Sciences

Family caregivers of patients, candidate for coronary artery bypass graft surgery experience high rate of anxiety about operation, its results and post caring process. Lack of sufficient information exacerbated the anxiety and stress rate. Here, the influence of peer-led education on anxiety rate of family caregivers of candidate patients for CABG is studied.
The study is conducted in Shahid Chamran Hospital of Isfahan as trial-clinical research. After the peer group was selected and prepared, 50 affiliated family caregivers were selected by in-available method and assigned randomly in two control and experimental groups. The anxiety rate of family caregivers was measured using the Speielberger Questionnaire before and after the intervention. In experimental group, the participants were categorized in 6 persons groups and educated in two sessions for two respective days before the operation and the education was done by peer group.
Before the intervention, the results did not show significant differences in anxiety rate of family caregivers of candidate patients for chronic vascular operation between control and experimental groups (P=0.46). However, after the operation, the anxiety score difference between two groups were significant (p the peer-led educational program was effective in decreasing the anxiety rate among family caregivers of candidate patients of CABG. Therefore, it is suggested to use well trained peer group to educate the patient’s family caregivers.