Mandala Coloring and Its Effect on Anxiety and Depression Before Open Heart Surgery

This study was conducted to determine the Effect of Mandala Coloring on Anxiety and Depression Before Open Heart Surgery. This was a randomized, controlled experimental study. The sample comprised 84 patients who underwent open heart surgery (control: 41; experimental: 43).

Eight pre-selected mandala drawings will be printed on separate A4 (21.0 cm × 29.7 cm) papers. After the patients are admitted to the hospital for the surgery process, the patients in the experimental group will be provided with at least 2 hours of mandala coloring per day until the day of their surgery. No intervention will be applied to the control group patients.

Cardiovascular diseases are among the leading causes of death both globally and in our country. Despite advances in prevention, diagnosis, medical interventions, and surgical methods for heart diseases, "open heart surgery" remains one of the most effective methods in the treatment of cardiovascular disorders. For patients who do not respond to medical treatment, open heart surgery is often considered as a treatment option. Heart surgery is a surgical procedure that includes interventions on heart valves, repair of congenital defects, and coronary artery grafting. The surgical process is one of the most critical experiences in a patient's life, affecting them physically, psychologically, socially, and economically. Patients awaiting heart surgery experience high levels of anxiety and depression due to significant psychological stress, fear, worry, and uncertainties related to the surgery. For most patients, heart surgery is perceived as a crisis or a life-threatening event. When an individual faces a threatening event, it is cognitively assessed, and if deemed threatening, it triggers anxiety. Additionally, factors such as facing physically painful procedures, being away from family, losing a job, being in an unfamiliar environment, or encountering unknown devices can also contribute to anxiety during hospitalization.

Mandala is an art therapy technique that can provide psychological support and healing. This circular art has traditionally been used for meditation in various Asian cultures and symbolizes psychological wholeness. Mandala is a Sanskrit word meaning "circle, roundness, wholeness, and completion"; it provides mental calmness and relaxation. Mandala is used as a tool to enhance awareness, express oneself, solve negative problems, and promote healing. Mandala coloring is a safe and accessible activity that can be used as a complementary strategy to support mental health, requiring no special skills.

Through practices like mandala coloring, individuals project what they do not know onto the outside world and make it visible through this act of creation. The recovery process begins with this step. The artistic perspective of nursing involves understanding individuals' needs, identifying sources of anxiety and stress, and then developing practices that enhance people's abilities and competence, thus boosting their self-confidence and resilience. This study will be conducted to examine the effects of mandala coloring on anxiety and psychological well-being in patients undergoing open heart surgery.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Having no history of previous cardiothoracic surgery, eing newly diagnosed with CAD and registered on a wait list for CABG surgery, having literacy in the Turkish language

Exclusion Criteria:

* having a history of cognitive impairment, having other life-threatening medical conditions, such as cancer or stroke