title: Perception of stressors by patients and nurses of critical care units in Hong Kong.
abstract: The frightening experience in critical care units, whether it be associated with the disease process or related to the critical care environment, has an important impact on clients' recovery and rehabilitation. A comparative descriptive study was conducted in the critical units of two major hospitals in Hong Kong to assess the perception of stressors by patients and nurses. A Chinese version of the Intensive Care Unit Environmental Stressor Scale (ICUESS) was used. Significant similarities and differences were noted between patients and nurses on their perceptions of stressors in the critical care environment. Critical care nurses, apart from maintaining their efforts to minimize the negative effects of the stressful critical care environment, needed to equally focus on the patients' psychological needs through measures in re-establishing patients' self-control and minimizing the emotional stress.
authors.affiliation: Intensive Care Unit, Department of Anasethesia, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, 3 Lok Man Road, Chai Wan, Hong Kong. sohm@netvigator.com
authors.forename: Hang Mui
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: So
authors.forename: Dominic Shung Kit
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Chan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003422:Critical Care / Q000523:psychology*; D016638:Critical Illness / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005260:Female; D006272:Health Facility Environment / Q000592:standards; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D007103:Immobilization / Q000009:adverse effects; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009622:Noise / Q000009:adverse effects; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology*; D010146:Pain / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology / Q000451:nursing / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires