Effect of spousal support and companionship intervention on quality of life, marital intimacy and stress in patients after coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG): A multiple baseline single-case study

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of spousal support and companionship intervention on quality of life, marital intimacy and stress of cardiovascular patients.

Supportive care and attention to the psychological factors along with medical care in people with heart disease can help therapies to be more effective. Providing an appropriate emotional atmosphere in the family, along with attention to medical care such as medication and diet control, is one of the supports that people with heart disease can receive after coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG).

This study was a semi-experimental research which was based on multiple baseline single-case study. The sample included 2 married male patients who had CABG and their wives which were selected among those referred to cardiac rehabilitation centers of Yazd City, Iran. The participants received 8 sessions of spousal support and companionship intervention. The participants answered to the questionnaires quality of life; stress, anxiety and depression; and marital intimacy, before, during, at the end and one month after intervention. The data were analyzed using visual analysis, improvement percentage and reliable change index.

Spousal support and companionship intervention increased the quality of life and decreased stress of patients, after intervention and in follow-up phases, but the patients’ marital intimacy did not change significantly after intervention.

The quality of life and stress of patients may be improved if the wives appropriately support and accompany their husbands after CABG.