Reducing family members' anxiety and uncertainty in illness around transfer from intensive care: an intervention study.
BACKGROUND
This intervention study examines anxiety and uncertainty in illness in families transferring from intensive care to a general ward.


METHODS
The pre-test, post-test design purposively allocated family members to a control (n = 80) and intervention group (n = 82). The intervention group experienced a structured individualised transfer method whereas the control group received existing ad hoc transfer methods. Families were surveyed before and after transfer.


RESULTS
Families' uncertainty was significantly related to their state anxiety (P < 0.000), the relationship to the patient (P = 0.022), and the unexpected nature of patients' admission (P < 0.000). Anxiety increased significantly with reduced social support (P = 0.002). Following transfer, anxiety reduced significantly for both groups whereas uncertainty reduced significantly for the intervention group (P = 0.03).


CONCLUSIONS
Families at the time of transfer experience uncertainty and anxiety, which are significantly related in this study. The intervention significantly reduced uncertainty scores. When the family member was a parent, when admissions were unexpected, and those with fewer social supports represent potential 'at risk' groups whose adaptation to transfer may limit their coping ability. The structured individualised method of transfer is recommended with further research of ICU families to further examine the dimension of uncertainty and how it affects patient outcomes.
School of Nursing, Griffith University, Australia. marion.mitchell@griffith.edu.au
Marion L
ML
Mitchell
Mary
M
Courtney
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001007:Anxiety / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001315:Australia; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010174:Pamphlets; D010360:Patient Transfer; D012944:Social Support