Evaluation of stressors in intensive care units

Physical and psychological stressors adversely affect the treatment and length of stay of patients in intensive care units. In this study, we aimed to describe environmental and psychological stressors affecting intensive care unit patients and to determine their priorities.

In this study, the 40-item Intensive Care Unit Environmental Stressor Scale was administered to patients in the General Surgery Intensive Care Unit and the Anesthesiology and Reanimation Intensive Care Unit. The patients' age, gender, marital status, educational status, cause of hospitalization, and intensive care unit length of stay were questioned and recorded. Acute Physiology And Chronic Health Evaluation II scores were determined for intensive care unit patients.

A total of 98 patients, 80 in the General Surgery Intensive Care Unit and 18 in the Anesthesiology and Reanimation Intensive Care Unit, were included in the study between May 1, 2015 and October 31, 2015. Fifty-six of the patients were male (57.1%) and 42 were female (42.9%). The mean age of the patients was 55.1±15.1 years. The mean intensive care unit length of stay was 3.4±1.6 days. The median Acute Physiology And Chronic Health Evaluation II score of the patients was 6 (0 to 17). The patients were most affected by thirst (mean 2.44). The second most stressful stress factor was the presence of tubes in the mouth and nose (mean 2.25). The least stressful factor for the patients was the presence of nurses constantly performing activities around the bed. Although 51% of the patients were postoperative, pain was ranked 5th among stress factors.

The environmental and psychological factors affecting intensive care unit patients varied according to age, sex, and educational and surgical status. These factors had adverse effects on the patients. The elimination or modification of these factors would contribute positively to the treatment of intensive care unit patients and shorten their length of stay in the intensive care unit.