Levels of anxiety and ways of coping of family members of patients hospitalized in the Neurosurgery Intensive Care Unit

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the levels of anxiety and ways of coping of family members of patients hospitalized in the Neurosurgery Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

METHODS: The descriptive study was carried out with the families of 120 patients hospitalized in the NICU of a University Hospital in Turkey, between November 2005 and July 2006. Data were collected using a questionnaire for demographical information, The State and Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Ways of Coping Inventory. Statistical analysis of the data was carried out with SPSS software, using arithmetic mean and standard deviation, percentage, t test, Kruskall Wallis, Mann-Whitney U, and correlation analyses.

RESULTS: Of the family members evaluated, 56.7% were males and the mean age of the family members was 34.7+/-11.13. The average score for the State Anxiety was 47.03+/-9.55, and Trait Anxiety was 44.11+/-7.62. Financial problems were the main source of anxiety, being experienced by 56.7% of the participants due to hospitalization of the patient in the intensive care unit. Submissive and helpless coping styles were observed more frequently, as the level of anxiety increased.

CONCLUSION: In light of these findings, it has been found that members of the families of the patients hospitalized in the NICU experienced a significant amount of anxiety, and that they faced difficulties in coping with anxiety, indicating that they require help and support.