Pain Intensity After Cardiac Surgery and its Association With Kinesiophobia: A Descriptive Study

Abstract

Purpose

Severe pain and fear of pain may decrease physical activity and restrict movements after cardiac surgery. This study aimed to determine pain intensity after cardiac surgery and its association with kinesiophobia.

Design

This was a descriptive and correlational study.

Methods

The study was conducted with cardiac surgery patients (n = 170). The sample size was calculated by using the G*POWER 3.1 program. According to the power analysis, the sample size was calculated as 170, taking into account the dependent variable with the largest sample size (kinesiophobia) and 20% loss. The outcome measures were pain and kinesiophobia collected using the Visual Analog Scale and Tampa Kinesiophobia Scale.

Findings

Married patients were at the greatest risk for kinesiophobia, higher than that for single patients (β = −3.765, β = −3.609; P < .05). Obese patients were at the greatest risk for kinesiophobia higher when compared to patients of normal weight (β = −2.907, P < .05). No statistically significant correlation was found between the pain intensity and kinesiophobia scores (P > 0.05).

Conclusions

Kinesiophobia was higher in patients after cardiac surgery. Married and obese patients were predictors of kinesiophobia; however, pain was not associated with kinesiophobia.