The Medical Journal of Australia
Episode 550: MJA Podcasts 2024 Episode 9: Reducing psychological distress among patients after cardiac surgery
Mar 17, 2024
Guests Snezana Stolic and William McCann from the University of Southern Queensland discuss reducing psychological distress in patients after cardiac surgery. They explore the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress, emphasize the importance of pre-operative education and social support, and highlight the challenges in the health system affecting patient care. Strategies include enhancing post-surgery patient support, utilizing digital systems for data sharing, and promoting participation in rehabilitation programs.
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Quick takeaways
- Participation in pre-operative education and cardiac rehabilitation, along with social support and increased physical activity, can lower levels of distress post cardiac surgery.
- Improvements in staff training, digital systems, pain management, and dedicated psychological support centers are suggested solutions to reduce patient distress in the healthcare system.
Deep dives
Psychological Distress Among Patients After Cardiac Surgery
Patients who undergo cardiac surgery often experience significant levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. Preoperative patients exhibit high rates of depression, anxiety, and stress, with depression levels reducing postoperatively but still impacting about 15 to 30% of patients. Patients with clinically significant depression or anxiety are at a higher risk of future cardiac events. Participation in pre-operative education and cardiac rehabilitation, having social support, and increased physical activity are linked to lower levels of distress post-surgery.
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