Preliminary testing of a proposition from the Roy Adaptation Model.
OBJECTIVE
To test a framework based on a proposition of the Roy Adaptation Model predicting the relationships of severity of illness, perceived control over visitation (PCV), hardiness, state anxiety, and length of stay in an intensive care unit (ICU).


METHODS
Descriptive-correlational.


METHODS
Convenience sample was 60 general medical-surgical ICU patients admitted to one regional medical center in the Southeastern U.S.A. Patients completed data collection instruments after a minimum of 20 hours in the ICU during January-March 1994.


METHODS
Instruments included the PCV Scale, the State Anxiety Inventory, the Health Related Hardiness Scale, and the Acute Physiologic and Chronic Health Evaluation II. Model testing and path analysis were done.


RESULTS
The study variables explained 18% of the variance in length of stay in the ICU, with anxiety and hardiness being the major contributing variables. The path between hardiness and PCV was the only path in the model supported by the data.


CONCLUSIONS
The proposed model had inadequate support in this preliminary testing. However, interventions that increase a patient's feelings of control and hardiness could decrease length of stay in ICU's.
Hamner
J B
JB
Auburn University School of Nursing, AL 36849, USA.
D018806:APACHE; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D003422:Critical Care / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D007902:Length of Stay; D016294:Models, Nursing; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D010551:Personality; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014789:Visitors to Patients