Atrial fibrillation: the impact of anxiety and depression on patients' needs

Psychiatriki. 2021 Mar 26. doi: 10.22365/jpsych.2021.013. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTAtrial fibrillation (AF) is a common sustained cardiac arrhythmia, which is expected to expand enormously due to population ageing. The aim of the present study was to explore the significance of AF patients' needs and the associated factors as well as the impact of anxiety and depression on these needs. The sample of the study included 215 AF hospitalized patients. Data were collected by the completion of a questionnaire which, in addition to patients' characteristics, it also included the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the questionnaire "Needs of hospitalized patients with coronary artery disease", that is evaluating the significance of the following 6 categories of needs: a) for support and guidance, b) for information from medical and nursing staff, c) for communication with other patients and family, d) for individualization of care and participation, e) to trust the medical and nursing staff and f) to meet emotional and physical needs. The statistical significance level was p< 0.05. Of the 215 participants, 68.4% were men and 67.5% were > 60 years old. Moreover, 47.5% of the participants experienced anxiety and 29.5% depression. The need for support, to be informed and to trust the medical and nursing staff considered to be of high significance by the patients (median 29,20 and 6, respectively). Anxiety and depression were significantly associated with all pat...
Source: Psychiatriki - Category: Psychiatry Authors: Source Type: research