Studying the effect of planned presence of family member in coronary care units on their anxiety and perception about nurses’ caring behavior

Authors: Halimeh Kamali, Masoomeh Imanipour

Background and Objectives: Hospitalization of patients in the intensive care units always has negative consequences such as anxiety and concern for the family. Especially restricted and difficult visiting policies in the intensive care units, being unfamiliar to patient’s condition and health care environment cause incoorect perception of family members about nurses’ caring behavior. This study aimed to investigate the effect of the planned presence of family members of patients admitted to coronary care units on their anxiety and perception about nurses’ caring behavior.

Material & Methods: This none-randomized clinical trial study has been done in one hospital located in Sari. Qualified samples were 80 eligible family members of patients that were selected by convenience sampling and divided into control and intervention groups. In the experimental group, family was allowed to attend in the ward three per day for two days and 15 minutes in each turn and concurrently perform some patient s primary care. In the control group, family member could just visit the patient based on restricted visiting policy of hospital. The anxiety and perception of nurse s caring behavior were evaluated and measured by Spielberger s questionnaire and the Caring Behavior Inventory, respectively. Data was analyzed by using SPSS-PC (v. 16).

Results: The mean score of family members’ anxiety before the intervention was 50.50±4.11 and after the intervention was 44.75±5.86 in the experimental group that significantly has reduced (P<0/001). In the experimental group, comparing the difference of the mean scores of anxiety before and after the intervention was -5.75±5.46 and 0.25±7.28 in the experimental and control group respectively. The independent t-test showed a significant difference between the mean score of anxiety in the both groups (P<0/001).

The mean score of family members’ perception about nurses’ caring behavior before the intervention, in the experimental group was 41.12 ± 8.91 and after the intervention was 84.90±7.87 that significantly has increased (P<0/001). In the experimental group, the difference of the mean scores about nurses’ caring behavior before and after the intervention was 43.77±11.05 and in the control group was 3.2±8.47. The independent t-test showed a significant difference between the mean score of nurses’ caring behavior in the both group (P<0/001).

Conclusion: The planned family members’ presence of patients who were admitted in intensive care units, play an effective role in reducing family members’ anxiety and improving their perception about nurses’ caring behavior. Therefore, based on importance of meeting patients’ family needs, it is suggested to revise visiting policies in intensive care units and pay more attention on family members’ peresence in a planned way beside the patients in these units.

Keywords: Intensive/Critical Care Units, Anxiety, Family Member, Visiting, Perception, Nurses’ Caring Behavior.