Uncertainty, and appraisal in patients diagnosed with abdominal aortic aneurysms

The purpose of this study was to describe the uncertainty of subjects diagnosed with abdominal aortic aneurysms and to examine the relationship between uncertainty and subjects', positive or negative appraisals of uncertainty. Twenty-seven subjects who had a definitive diagnosis of abdominal aortic aneurysms were surveyed using the Mishel Uncertainty in Illness Scale (MUIS), the Folkman and Lazarus Restructured Appraisal Scale, and a demographic questionnaire. Findings from the study suggested that the level of uncertainty among patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms was similar or higher than the level of uncertainty that has been reported for patients with myocardial infarctions (M = 91.9, S.D. = 19.56). There was no significant relationship between uncertainty and appraisal of uncertainty as a danger (r = .21, p = .14) or opportunity (r = .14, p = .25). Implications for further research include examining patients uncertainty levels and appraisal at repeated intervals during their illness trajectory.