Cardiac Electrophysiology Study: Critical Care Nurses' Knowledge, Practices and Patients' State-Trait Anxiety Level at a Selected Hospital in Cairo

: The invasive cardiac procedure as electrophysiology study (EPS) can be anxiety provoking for many patients so, critical care nurses must understand the technical and psychosocial aspects of an electrophysiology study, be knowledgeable and skilled to ensure adequate care. Aim of the study: 1-to assess critical care nurses' knowledge and practices regarding electrophysiology study. 2-to assess patients' level of anxiety before and after the electrophysiology study and 3-to investigate the relationship between nurses' knowledge and practices and patient state-trait anxiety level concerning electrophysiology study. Research questions: Q1-What is the level of critical care nurses' knowledge about electrophysiology study? Q2-What is the level of critical care nurses' practice about electrophysiology study? Q3-What is the state-trait anxiety level of patients undergoing electrophysiology study? Q4-Is there a relationship between the critical care nurses' knowledge and practices concerning electrophysiology study and the patient state-trait anxiety level? Research design: Descriptive correlational research design was utilized in this study. Setting: This study was carried out at a selected cardiac care unit affiliated to Cairo University Hospital, in Cairo governorate. Subjects: Convenient sample of 40 adult male and female patients undergoing electrophysiology study were recruited in the study. In addition to all critical care nurses working in the selected cardiac care unit affiliated to Cairo University Hospital, in Cairo governorate who agreed to participate in the study (50). Tools: Personal characteristics and background data sheet for nurses, knowledge assessment questionnaire, Observational checklist and Patient state-trait anxiety level assessment sheet; composed of two parts part A-Personal characteristics and medical data of the patient and Part B: Patient state-trait anxiety inventory. Results: 76 % of the nurses' age ranged between 20-30 with a mean of 28.3 + 5.4, 92 % of them were females; majority of the nurses had unsatisfactory level of total knowledge about EPS and about nursing care after the procedure. Total mean practice scores of critical care nurses regarding EPS was 12.79 + 2.03 out of 24 indicating low total practice level. 55% of the patients underwent electrophysiology study were having severe anxiety level before the procedure of the EPS while, 77.5% of them were having moderate anxiety level after the procedure of the EPS with mean score of (61.36 + 9.8 & 47.8 + 4.2) respectively with significant statistical difference between the two readings. there is a highly significant statistical correlation between critical care nurses' total knowledge scores , critical care nurses' total practice scores and the patient's total anxiety scores before and after the procedure. Recommendations: Specific educational program can be designed and presented to critical care nurses in order to improve their level of knowledge and practice toward EPS and Individualized psychological preparation should become a routine part of patient care before EPS.