Identification and validation of a new nursing diagnosis: sick role conflict

The purpose of this research is to assess the presence, etiology, and effects of sick role conflict experienced by hospitalized patients. Data from 99 hospitalized adult subjects were analyzed using a path analysis design. Patients were interviewed at the bedside using a structured interview tool developed by the researchers. It was found that subjects who occupied multiple roles, who were not adequately prepared for hospitalization, and who had an acute rather than chronic illness were prone to experience sick role conflict when hospitalized. Those subjects experiencing sick role conflict did not fully assume the sick role as defined by Parsons (1966). As a consequence of incomplete sick role assumption, an increased incidence of human responses such as guilt, powerlessness, anxiety, decreased self-esteem, depression, appetite change, and insomnia were reported. The researchers urge nurses to assume responsibility for diagnosing and treating sick role conflict, a human response to hospitalization commonly seen among patients.