Stressors associated with coronary bypass surgery.

The purpose of this investigation was to attempt to replicate the findings of a study by Carr and Powers (1986) which examined differences between patient and nurse perceptions of the severity of stressfulness associated with hospital- and illness-related stressors. The samples consisted of 24 patients who experienced coronary bypass surgery and 24 nurses who cared for them during their hospitalization. All participants responded to the Stressor Scale developed by Carr and Powers (1986) specifically for patients undergoing coronary bypass surgery. Findings indicated that the major findings of the original study were replicated. Three one-way analysis of variance statistical procedures indicated that cardiothoracic nurses rated all stressors and hospital-related and illness-related stressors as statistically significantly more stressful for coronary bypass patients than did the patients themselves.