Effect of Self-care Program Training on Anxiety and Depression in Patients with Angina Pectoris

Among ischemic heart diseases, angina pectoris is the most common disease and includes the most cases of admission to the hospital emergency department. Depression and anxiety are the causes of cardiovascular diseases. Nowadays, education is accepted as the main core of healthcare activities. Therefore, the present study was conducted with the aim of the effect of self-care program training on anxiety and depression in patients with angina pectoris.

 The present study is an interventional study that was performed on 60 patients with angina pectoris referred to Qaen Shohada hospital. During this study, Beck's depression and Spielberger's anxiety questionnaires were completed before and two months after the intervention. The intervention consisted of 3 sessions of 45 minutes of self-care training by a nurse. There was no self-care intervention in the control group and they received the usual treatment and care. Data were analyzed by 19 SPSS software and using Fisher, Chi-Square, Mann-Whitney, Independent Tests, Pair T-test and Kruskal Wallis test.

There was no statistically significant difference in the demographic variables and the baseline mean scores of anxiety and depression between the two groups. The mean scores of depression in control and test groups before the intervention were 13.30 ± 7.15 and 16.90 ± 9.10, respectively. After the intervention, these scores reached 14.46 ± 6.86 (in control group) and 6.66 ± 3.27 (in test group). The average scores of situational anxiety in control and test groups before the intervention were 50.50 ± 4.82 and 48.16 ± 7.77, respectively. After the intervention, these scores reached 50.30 ± 5.25 (in control group) and 35.56 ± 6.05 (in test group). Before the intervention, the mean trait anxiety scores in control group were 48.20 ± 4.26 and in test group 45.60 ± 8.08. After the intervention, it reached 47.56 ± 4.62 in control group and 41.53 ± 4.59 in test group. All these changes in test group were significant (P<0.05).

Self-care training is effective in improving anxiety and depression in patients with angina pectoris. Therefore, use of this training method in patients with angina pectoris is recommended to control and reduce anxiety and depression.