[Study of stress and coping behaviors in families of hospitalized pregnant woman undergoing tocolysis].

Because of tocolysis intervention, families of pregnant woman undergoing tocolysis face stresses beyond the physical and psychological challenges of normal pregnancy. The lifestyle of the family and the relationship between family members will change significantly. The purpose of this study was to explore the stresses and coping behaviors of families of pregnant woman undergoing tocolysis in the hospital. A clinical field method was used and the subjects were recruited from one medical center in Taipei. Data, collected from participant observations and interviews, was subject to content analysis. Results showed that the family stress could be segmented into the four realms of (1) uncertainty about tocolysis; (2) worrying about infant's health; (3) role conflicts between relatives; and (4) changes in family life patterns. The study classified family coping behavior into the following four activity categories: (1) searching for information about tocolysis; (2) adjusting family member roles; (3) changing family member interactions; (4) streamlining the use of family resources. These conclusions are helpful to promote nursing quality in relation to caring for families of pregnant woman with tocolysis by fully understanding the related sources of stress and patterns of coping behaviors.