Neriman Zengin1, Besey Ören1, Hülya Üstündag2. 1. Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Midwifery, University of Health Science, Istanbul, Turkey. 2. Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing, İstanbul Bilgi University, Istanbul, Turkey.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Patients in intensive care units (ICUs) face many physical and psychological stressors because of the environment of these units and their own critical conditions and experience stress in various degrees. Each stressor may affect patients' experiences in ICUs differently. AIM AND OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to examine the relationship between stressors and patients' experiences in an ICU. METHODS: This descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted between September 2014 and June 2015 in a university hospital and included 116 patients who were admitted to the general ICU for at least 24 hours. Data were collected using the Intensive Care Experience Scale and a questionnaire that included questions about socio-demographic and disease-related characteristics of patients and their stressors. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 57.81 ± 13.81 years, and the mean duration of ICU stay was 2.28 ± 3.88 days. There was a moderate positive relation between the stressors noise (r = .534; P < .01), thirst (r = .438; P < .01), loneliness (r = .410; P < .01), and pain (r = .404; P < .01) and the subscale frightening experiences. However, there was a moderate, negative relation between the stressors inability to speak (r = -.444; P < .01), surrounding speeches (r = -.458; P < .01), equipment noise (r = -.490; P < .01), and physical exercise (r = -.546; P < .01) and the subscale satisfaction with care. CONCLUSIONS: The patients associated stressors with satisfaction and frightening experiences in the early period of their discharge from the ICU. As stressors increases, so do frightening experiences, and satisfaction with care is affected negatively. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Currently, stressors to which patients discharged from ICU are exposed during their admission to wards are not evaluated in practice. This study is important in that it can help health professionals be aware of effects of stressors on patients in the early period of their discharge.
BACKGROUND:Patients in intensive care units (ICUs) face many physical and psychological stressors because of the environment of these units and their own critical conditions and experience stress in various degrees. Each stressor may affect patients' experiences in ICUs differently. AIM AND OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to examine the relationship between stressors and patients' experiences in an ICU. METHODS: This descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted between September 2014 and June 2015 in a university hospital and included 116 patients who were admitted to the general ICU for at least 24 hours. Data were collected using the Intensive Care Experience Scale and a questionnaire that included questions about socio-demographic and disease-related characteristics of patients and their stressors. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 57.81 ± 13.81 years, and the mean duration of ICU stay was 2.28 ± 3.88 days. There was a moderate positive relation between the stressors noise (r = .534; P < .01), thirst (r = .438; P < .01), loneliness (r = .410; P < .01), and pain (r = .404; P < .01) and the subscale frightening experiences. However, there was a moderate, negative relation between the stressors inability to speak (r = -.444; P < .01), surrounding speeches (r = -.458; P < .01), equipment noise (r = -.490; P < .01), and physical exercise (r = -.546; P < .01) and the subscale satisfaction with care. CONCLUSIONS: The patients associated stressors with satisfaction and frightening experiences in the early period of their discharge from the ICU. As stressors increases, so do frightening experiences, and satisfaction with care is affected negatively. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Currently, stressors to which patients discharged from ICU are exposed during their admission to wards are not evaluated in practice. This study is important in that it can help health professionals be aware of effects of stressors on patients in the early period of their discharge.
Authors: Usha Pant; Michael Frishkopf; Tanya Park; Colleen M Norris; Elizabeth Papathanassoglou Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-03-06 Impact factor: 3.390