Evaluation of Supportive Psychosocial Protocol on Anxiety of the Patients’ Families’ Located at the Al-Zahra/Isfahan Intensive Care Unit in 2011

Abstract

Introduction: Critical illnesses and subsequent hospitalization of a relative to an intensive care unit (ICU) can result in many psychosocial problems for patient and their family members. Caring for the anxiety and frustration of their families within the first days of patient's hospitalization is an integral part of critical care nursing. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the supportive psychosocial protocol in anxiety of patient families' located at the ICU, provided within the first days of patient's hospitalization. Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study. A convince and random sample was recruited over a six months, consisting of seventy-five primary family members of each critically ill patient who had been newly admitted to Isfahan Al-Zahra university hospital. Mean family psychosocial need and anxiety scores' were measured and compared before and after intervention, using two questionnaires, a critical care family needs inventory (CCFNI) and an Anxiety questionnaire (Spilburger) forms. Different statistical tests were used for data analysis. Results: with a significant difference (P < 0.001), the mean family psychosocial need scores' associated to before and after intervention was 57.1 ± 4.7 versus 32.6 ± 3.9 respectively. There was a significant difference (P < 0.001) related to the mean family anxiety scores' of before and after intervention with values of 32.8 ± 4.6, versus 27.7 ± 2.3 respectively. Conclusions: The findings support the effectiveness of supportive psychosocial protocol on ICU patient families' anxiety to allay anxiety and immediate psychosocial needs. The formation of an ICU patient families' supportive psychosocial protocol should be based on a need assessment, in order to alleviate their anxiety and meet their immediate psychosocial needs.