Effects of Prior Information About Intensive Care Unit Environment on Anxiety and Environmental Stress in Patients Undergoing Open Heart Surgery / 한국간호교육학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of prior information about ICU environment on the anxiety and environmental stress of cardiac surgery ICU patients. METHODS: A non-equivalent control group non-synchronized quasi-experimental research design was used. Participants were 60 (control 30, experimental 30) patients who had been admitted to ICU. Prior information about the ICU environment was provided to the experimental group. The anxiety level of subjects was measured by State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and the stress level of subjects was measured by the Intensive Care Unit Environmental Stressor Scale (ICUESS). Data were analyzed using a Chi-square test or a Fisher's exact test, independent samples t-test, and paired samples t-test. RESULTS: There was no difference in Anxiety (t=-0.58, p=.563), but there was a significant difference in environmental stress (t=10.46, p<.001). CONCLUSION: Providing prior information would be an effective nursing intervention to reduce environmental stress.