[Perception of stress factors among patients admitted to an intensive care unit]

A descriptive study was conducted to identify stress factors for patients admitted to an Intensive Care Cardiac Surgery Unit of a Northern Italy hospital (Trento). Stress factors were identified according to the opinion of nurses and patients and differences in perceptions were explored. Patients and nurses were asked to rank the main stress factors from a list of 30 and to rate each over a scale of 4 points from 1 to 4 (1 not at all and 4 very stressful). Data were collected from the end of September to the end of October 2001. Patients rate as more stressful the presence of endotracheal tube (as well as the associated point) the impossibility to communicate, suctioning manoeuvres, pain in general. Nurses rate as more stressful for the patients the endotracheal tube, the suctioning manoeuvre, the worries for the outcome of the heart surgery and the impossibility to communicate pain. No statistically significant differences were observed for the more important stress factors, but nurses tend to overestimate the stress related to factors rated as least important by the patients.