published_or_final_version / Nursing Studies / Master / Master of Nursing in Advanced Practice

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is known as the second killer in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Hospital Authority reported nearly 7000 patients suffered from acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in year 2010 to 2011. Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) is a minimal access surgical treatment for coronary artery disease but studies have shown that patients experienced different levels of anxiety before and during PTCA which led negative impact to the patients. Music can be regarded as a safe, cost-effective therapy to reduce one’s anxiety level. It can be carried out by nurses without any specific technique. However, there was no systemic review for using music therapy to patients undergoing PTCA. Therefore, this dissertation aims to evaluate the best available evidence on using music therapy for patients undergoing PTCA. Four electronic databases, Medline, CINAHL, Embase & PsycINFO, were searched for studies to investigate the efficacy of music therapy in patients undergoing PTCA. There were seven studies were eligible with data extracted and quality assessment performed by the critical appraisal skill programme (CASP) checklist. Four studies were graded as high quality, which consistently demonstrated a statistically significant more reduction in the anxiety level of patients who received music therapy either before and/or during PTCA than those who had no music therapy. Consequently, an evidence-based guideline of using music therapy for patients undergoing PTCA was developed according to the guideline development process of SIGN (2010). The use of music therapy is transferable and feasibly in the local setting with little manpower concern. The total cost estimated for running the innovation for a year was HKD 83,775 which was considered as cost-effective to reduce patients’ anxiety level and avoid associated adverse events. A 14-months programme including communication with the stakeholders, pilot testing, staff training and clinical application of the proposed music therapy was designed. Qualitative and quantitative data on patient, healthcare provider and system outcomes would be accounted throughout the programme. The effectiveness of the guideline would be determined by the reduction of patient’s anxiety level by using the Chinese version of State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) (Shek, 1993). Moreover, healthcare provider outcome would be evaluated by questionnaire and the expenditure of the proposed music therapy would be monitored closely. / published_or_final_version / Nursing Studies / Master / Master of Nursing

Cognitive ratings that use bipolar constructs based upon similarity and contrast have been shown to be biased towards the similarity pole in approximately a 62/38 ratio. This bias has also been known to shift in the contrastive direction for individuals who have psychiatric problems. This quantitative measure of cognitive change has a potential for characterizing cognitive changes that occur during the disease process, including recovery from disease. The present study investigated changes in self-aspect ratings and bipolar construct use in adult male veterans who had undergone coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Results indicated that treatment subjects' self-aspect and construct ratings were more negative than controls'. Results also indicated that all subjects rated core interpersonal self-aspects closest to the expected bias, while self-aspects related to cardiac recovery problems were rated in the most contrastive direction. The results finally suggested that the greatest degree of change for the treatment subjects were in emotionally generated constructs. The results suggested a preliminary validation for characterizing cognitive changes in the disease process by measuring shifts in bipolar construct ratings.

Fifty percent of the diagnosed cases of coronary heart disease in the United States are of unknown etiology. This study proposed that five personality traits— achievement, dominance, aggression, succorance and Critical Parent—differentiate individuals with coronary heart disease manifestations. The ultimate goal of this research was to formulate a predictive profile of at-risk individuals of developing coronary heart disease. Cardiac rehabilitation units' participants from across the United States were recruited as subjects. Randomly selected cardiac rehabilitation units were sent an initial letter inquiring whether their staff would be willing to participate in the study by administering the instruments to their participants. Eight units from each of the 50 states were contacted. A total of fourteen units agreed to participate. One hundred sixty-nine subjects completed the Demographic Data Questionnaire and the Adjective Check List. Five scale scores, representing the five personality differentials, were analyzed. Comparison of the male subject population (n=135) and the male normative population (n=198) revealed no significant differences in terms of the five traits. Comparison of diagnostic subgroups of the subject population also revealed no significant differences. It was concluded that the subject population did not differ significantly from the normative population in terms of the five traits assess by the instrument used. The goal of a predictive profile was not realized due to this lack of findings. / Master of Science / incomplete_metadata