Evaluation of Anxiety Levels in Relatives of Patients in the Intensive Care Unit

Objective: Using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) scale, relatives of patients in intensive care (IC); the aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of age, gender, intimacy level, profession, education, and experience in IC, as well as the patients'age, education, and bedtime, on their anxiety levels using the STAI scale and relatives in patients with IC.Methods: Age 18 and over 18 years old patients were included for the present study.Demographic data, education, and degree of closeness of the patient's relative were recorded.Relatives of patients on admission, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 10. "STAI FORM TX-1" was filled in on these days.Relatives of the patient; age, gender, intimacy levels, educational status, professions, their own or their relatives' IC experiences, and anxiety levels were compared.Results: When compared according to patient age, gender, IC scores, Glasgow Coma Scale, patient relative age, past IC experience, degree of closeness, frequency of meeting with the patient, education level and income level; group of the IC experience has statistically difference (P < 0.05).Also, it was staistically difference in the group whose bedtime was 20.00-08.00hrs (P < 0.05).However, it was no statistically difference between the patient's relative's age, degree of closeness, frequency of meetings and income level (P > 0.05). Conclusion:Our findings provide that there are multiple factors that can cause anxiety in the relatives of patients with IC.It has been observed that hospitalization experience of patient relatives in IC unite have high anxiety during hospitalization.Anxiety; although we think that it decreases with adequate information, we think that more detailed research should be done.