Effects of family visits on the heart rate and blood pressure of myocardial infaraction patients.

This study investigated the effects of the family visit during the acute phase of the myocardial infarction to determine if the patient’s social interaction with a family member was associated with a physiological stress response. The purpose of the study was to establish the effects of the family visit on the heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure in the myocardial infarction patient. The study group consisted of 35 myocardial infarction patients admitted to the coronary care unit during a two-moth study period. Heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure were measured during both an experimental period and a control period within a 24 hour time span. During the experimental period, at which time the family visit took place, the heart rate and blood pressure were measured at the following intervals: Within five minutes before the visiting period, during the five minute visiting period, and within five minutes and at 15 minutes following the visiting period. During the control period, the heart rate and blood pressure were measured in an identical time sequence during the same day when the patient was awake, had no visitors, and was not being disturbed by any other event. Graphic analysis of the heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure demonstrated an acute phenomenon in which there was a general increases in these physiological variables during the family visit when compared with the pre-visit and post-visit readings. However, only the increases in the heart rate and systolic blood pressure during the family visit were statistically significant, as were the decreases in these physiological variables within five minutes following the visit. Changes in the diastolic blood pressure were not statistically significant. Although the mean changes during the family visit and within five minutes following the visit for heart rate and systolic blood pressure were statistically significant, they did not achieve clinical significance.