Perceived uncertainty by parents of hospitalized child

ABSTRACT

This study aimed at measuring uncertainty as a major perceptual variable influencing parents experiences during their child's illness. The parents perception of uncertainty was measured by using a 31-item likert format scale composed of four factors [subscales] measuring the four dimensions of uncertainty Ambiguity and lack of information and unpredictability. The data were collected over a four-month period pediatric nursing students or medical and surgical units. The person completed the scale was either a mother or a father [N= 82]. It was found that some factors of uncertainty had significant relationships with child's age, and education, and number of prior hospitalization. Uncertainty also had an inverse relationship with child's age. Further study is needed to examine the insignificant and unclear relationship using one diagnostic category of the sample