Factors Associated with Perceived Stressors among Critical Care Units Adult Patients: An Exploratory Study

The critical care unit environment has been observed as a leading stressor not only amongst the health care professionals but in patients also. Unfamiliar surroundings, dependency on others, financial problems, etc. are among factors that are responsible for the development of stress in the patients admitted to the critical care units. Stress and its factors are also responsible for the patient's deliberate recovery and depraved prognosis. In this study, we explored the association between selective factors and perceived stressors among adult patients admitted to critical care units. A quantitative, exploratory research design study was conducted, to identify the association between the perceived stressors and selected factors of adult patients admitted in Critical Care Units of the selected multispecialty hospitals at Vadodara. A total of sixty patients admitted to the critical care departments were selected through the convenience sampling technique. A demographic variables datasheet and hospitals stress rating interview scale was used after the expert’s content validation to collect the data. Analysis and interpretation of data were done by using descriptive and inferential statistics.

Results: Study findings revealed that all the patients, who were interviewed through the hospital stress interview scale, expressed the perception of stressors as indicated by the total perceived stressors score of above (1%). The study also revealed that separation from family members or spouses and financial problems are the highly rated perceived stressors among the patients admitted to the critical care unit. Patients also reported the least perceived stressful area was the problem with medication. There was a significant association between the socioeconomic status and medical-surgical diagnosis of patients with perceived stressors.

Conclusion: Therefore, the findings of the study concluded that the study, patients admitted in the critical care department also suffer from stress due to some stressors, and it affects their prognosis and early recovery. Nursing professionals need to focus on the subjective characteristics of patients so that perceived stressors and early detection of the related complication can be prevented.