Bypass surgery with psychological and spiritual support (the BY.PASS Study): results of a pragmatic trial based on patients' preference.

Background: Some general hospitals within the German health system provide supportive interventions, psychological as well as spiritual, to their patients. It remains to be proven if these interventions are effective when used in routine clinical practice.

Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of psychological and spiritual interventions on improving recovery following bypass surgery.

Bypass surgery with psychological and spiritual support (the By.pass study): study design and research methods.

Effects of psychological as well as spiritual interventions on outcome in cardiac surgery have mostly been studied with a focus on presurgical interventions. Systematically controlled analyses of the effects of psychological and spiritual interventions depending on the patients' preference have not been performed so far, although these studies would help to assign patients to an adequate support. The By.