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Background & Aim: Many patients with cardiovascular disease suffer from some degree of anxiety after admission to the Cardiac Care Unit (CCU). Anxiety adversely affects patients’ recovery. High levels of anxiety increases mortality risk up to three times. This study aimed to determine the effect of pre-operative supportive care plan on anxiety of patients with acute coronary syndrome after admission to CCU.
Methods & Materials: In this clinical trial, 74 patients with acute coronary syndrome, admitted to the Cardiac Care Unit of Vasei hospital of Sabzevar in 2016. Participants were selected via convenience sampling and randomly divided into two groups of intervention and control. The control group only received routine nursing care. For the intervention group, besides routine care, the supportive nursing care was delivered on the intellectual, emotional and physical domains. The Beck Anxiety Inventory questionnaire was completed by both groups before and after the intervention. The data were analyzed by the Mann-Whitney U test and independent t-test using the SPSS software version 16.
Results: Before the intervention, no significant difference was observed in the anxiety score between the intervention and control groups (P=0.162). After the intervention, the anxiety score in the intervention group was lower than in the control group (P=0.023).
Conclusion: According to the results of this study, supportive care plan reduced anxiety in the intervention group compared to the control group. Therefore, supportive care plan is recommended for reducing anxiety in these patients.
Clinical trial registry: IRCT2015123025767N1
 

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Background & Aim: Acute coronary syndrome is the most common cardiovascular disorder. Hope and optimism lead to adaptation to and moderation of the damaging effects of depressed mood on the outcome of this disorder. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of positive psychology-based audio messages on hope and optimism among patients with acute coronary syndrome.
Methods & Materials: In this randomized controlled clinical trial, 84 patients with acute coronary syndrome were assigned to either intervention or control groups in Shahrekord educational hospitals in 2017-2018. The intervention group received audio messages based on positive psychology and cardiovascular self-care, and control group only received self-care messages in two hospital admissions and six weeks after discharge. The Life Orientation Test-Revised and the Snyder's Hope Scale were completed before the intervention, at the discharge time, one week and six weeks after the intervention. Data were analyzed by c² and Fisher exact tests and analysis of variance using the SPSS software version 20.
Results: No significant difference is observed in the mean score of hope before the intervention and at the discharge time. However, the mean score of hope was significantly different between the two groups, one week and six weeks after the intervention (P<0.001). There was no significant difference in the mean score of optimism between the two groups before the intervention. Nevertheless, difference in the mean score of optimism was significant at the discharge time (P=0.027), one week and six weeks after the intervention (P<0.001).
Conclusion: Positive psychology-based messages improve hope and optimism in patients with acute coronary syndrome. Therefore, this intervention is recommended along with other treatments.
Clinical trial registry: IRCT2017092532764N4
 

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Background & Aim: Chest pain is one of the main symptoms of acute coronary syndrome, and sleep disorders are among common problems in these patients. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of Curcuma Longa on chest pain and sleep quality in patients with acute coronary syndrome.
Methods & Materials: This triple-blind clinical trial was conducted on 270 patients in the Coronary Care Unit of Kowsar Hospital in Semnan, with random allocation to three groups (intervention, placebo and control) in 2020-2021. The intervention group received 500 mg of Curcuma Longa tablets and the placebo group received 500 mg of starch, Oisel and lactose tablets at 9 a.m. after breakfast once a day for 3 days. The control group received daily interventions. Chest pain was assessed using the pain assessment tool before the intervention and half an hour after the intervention for 3 consecutive days. Sleep quality was evaluated by the standardized sleep quality questionnaire of Saint Mary's Hospital in the morning of the first day before the intervention and in the morning of the second and third days after the intervention.
Results: There was no significant difference in the average reduction of chest pain intensity from the first to the third day between the groups (P>0.05). But there was a significant difference in the chest pain intensity within the intervention, placebo and control groups (P<0.001), and the average chest pain intensity on the second day compared to the first day of hospitalization decreased in three groups (P<0.001). However, the decrease in chest pain intensity on the third day compared to the second day of hospitalization was not significant in the three groups (P>0.05). The average score of sleep quality before the intervention in the intervention group was higher than that of in the placebo group (P=0.021), but on the second and third days of the intervention, it was lower in the intervention group compared to the placebo (P<0.001) and control groups (P<0.001).
Conclusion: The results showed that Curcuma Longa did not have a significant effect on chest pain in the patients with acute coronary syndrome, but it improved the quality of sleep. Therefore, Curcuma Longa can be used to improve the sleep quality of these patients.
Clinical trial registry: IRCT20110427006318N14