[Analysis of patients' perception of their stay in a medical intensive care unit. Les trois equipes d'infirmières].
OBJECTIVE
Evaluate patients' appraisal of their stay in a medical intensive care unit and analyze their anxiety.


METHODS
Two 5-month prospective studies with specific questionnaires were filled out by patients with the help of a psychologist. The first study (61 patients) evaluated global appraisal of the stay and the second study (53 patients) focused on anxiety using questionnaires also filled out by nurses.


RESULTS
The study population was not different from the global population admitted to intensive care during the same period. The patients felt secure in 97% of the cases but suffered pain (53%), insomnia (62%), discomfort due to noise (49%) or light (37%), and expressed anxiety (55%). The second study confirmed the anxiety in 61% of the patients. Using surrogate markers of anxiety, the psychologist judged that anxiety was underestimated in 20% of the cases. In 17%, anxiety was expressed by patients but not felt to be present by nurses.


CONCLUSIONS
In order to decrease the anxiety of patients admitted to a medical intensive care unit, every effort should be made to lessen pain and unnecessary discomfort. All personnel working in the unit should be able to recognize the patients' anxiety.
Brullmann
F
F
Service de Réanimation médicale, Hôpital Saint-Antoine, Paris.
Guidet
B
B
Maury
E
E
Vassal
T
T
Offenstadt
G
G
D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D005602:France; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000523:psychology*; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010465:Perception; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
Analyse de la perception par les malades de leur séjour en réanimation médicale. Les trois equipes d'infirmières.