The objectives of this study were to determine whether vicarious experiences, in which expatients exemplify the active lives they are leading, can strengthen the belief in the restorability of cardiac functions. An experimental research design was used to evaluate an intervention designed to link volunteers who have successfully recovered from cardiac surgery in dyadic support with those individuals about to undergo similar surgery, by means of visits during the hospitalisation and recovery period. The intervention was intended to reduce @entity148 and increase self-efficacy and activity performance. Through a randomised trial, 55 bypass surgery @entity1 , aged 40-69 years, were allocated to either the experimental intervention (n = 27) or usual care (n = 28). The @entity148 level was measured with the SPIELBERGER, GORSUCH and LUSHENE (1970) scale; self-efficacy and activity performance were measured with JENKIN's scales (1989). Data analysis with independent t tests revealed significant (p < 0.05) differences between groups in the @entity148 level at 24 hours before surgery, and at 5 days and 4 weeks after surgery. Only the experimental group showed a significant (p < 0.02) decrease in @entity148 during hospitalisation. Repeated analysis of variance showed significant (p < 0.05) differences between groups in perceived self-efficacy and performance of activities at 5 days and at 4 weeks after surgery. These results indicate that dyadic social support that volunteers offer cardiac surgery @entity1 seems to be effective in helping the latter deal with @entity299 . Implications and recommendations for nursing practice and research were generated.

[Social support intervention by former model XXXX for @entity1 undergoing heart surgery].

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients'] @entity148 :: ('MESH:D001008', 'Disease') :: ['anxiety'] @entity299 :: ('MESH:D006331', 'Disease') :: ['cardiac events']
@entity1 :: (9606,Species) :: ['patients']
