Congenital heart disease is a stressful and anxiety overwhelming experience for
parents and their children, therefore nurses are pivotal in providing a
comprehensive and evidence based strategies to reduce anxiety among parents and
enhance their children' wellbeing. Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of teaching
sessions on anxiety level among mothers of children with congenital heart disease.
Study design: A quasi-experimental design was used. Setting: The study was
conducted in paediatric cardiology department at Mansoura University Children
Hospital affiliated to Mansoura University. Sample: A purposive sample of forty
mothers having children from 3 months to 6 years with congenital heart disease
were participated in this study. Tools of data collection: Three tools were used;
first: by Interview Questionnaire to gather data about characteristic of the study
subjects, mothers' knowledge regarding congenital heart disease. Second: Mothers'
reported practice sheet was designed by the researchers to assess mothers' reported
practice regarding congenital heart disease. Third: Taylor's Manifest Anxiety Scale
was used to assess the anxiety level of the studied mothers. Results: There was a
highly statistical significant difference between the studied mothers' total mean
score of knowledge and reported practice with positive correlation regarding
congenital heart disease at pre and post teaching sessions. Also, there was highly
significant negative correlation among mothers' knowledge, practice and anxiety
level. Conclusion: the implementation of teaching sessions for the mothers of
children with congenital heart disease had reduced their anxiety level. Furthermore,
teaching sessions had improved mothers' total mean score of knowledge and
reported practices about caring of children with congenital heart disease.
Recommendations: The study recommended establishing programs, as mothers'
support groups, to assist them overcome the adverse psychological effects of
congenital heart disease among their children.