Nursing guidance on bed baths to reduce anxiety - Revista Brasileira de Enfermagem

ABSTRACT

Objective:

to evaluate the effectiveness of a nursing guidance protocol to reduce the anxiety of patients with acute coronary syndrome undergoing bed bath, and the correlation of vital signs with state-anxiety.

Method:

randomized clinical trial study. The sample consisted of 120 patients. The intervention group received a nursing guidance protocol about bed bath and the control group received the unit’s routine information. The STAI-State scale was used to assess anxiety, and data were collected at three times: immediately after informing the patients about the bed bath; immediately after interventions; and immediately after the bath.

Results:

the intervention group presented signifi cantly lower state-anxiety compared to the control group (p<0.001) after the intervention.

Conclusion:

the nursing orientation was effective to reduce anxiety in patients with acute coronary syndrome undergoing bed bath.