The effects of environmental factors including sound, light, and color in waiting rooms on the physiological indices of anxiety among patients undergoing coronary angiography: A randomized controlled trial

Vahideh Pouyesh, Sara Amaniyan, Mojtaba Veismoradi, Mahsa Haji Mohammad Hoseini, Yousef Bashiri, Christina Sieloffm, Zahra Abbasi Dolatabadi

Abstract

Background: According to the Nightingale’s hypothesis, the environment can play a central role in the healing of the patient’s body and mind. Therefore, a healing and stress-reducing environment is required for nursing care before invasive procedures.

 Aims: This study aimed to investigate and compare the effects of environmental factors including sound, light, and color in waiting rooms on the physiological indices of anxiety among patients undergoing coronary angiography.

Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, 200 patients undergoing coronary angiography in an urban area of Iran were assigned randomly to the following intervention groups: (i) nature sounds; (ii) nature sounds and natural light; (iii) nature sounds, natural light and color enhancements, and (iv) control. Portable monitors were used to measure the patients’ physiological indices upon admission and 30 and 60 minutes thereafter.

Results: The physiological indices of anxiety showed significant differences in the time trend and interactions between time and the groups. Also, the mean values of indices were statistically significant between the groups except for the systolic blood pressure.

Conclusion: Environmental factors had positive effects on the physiological indices of anxiety in patients undergoing coronary angiography. Also, they could prevent harmful changes in their physiological indices of anxiety.

Keywords: anxiety; coronary angiography; environmental factors; nursing care