Effects of nursing industrial action on relatives of Intensive Care Unit patients: a 16-month follow-up.
OBJECTIVE
In December 2001, nursing industrial action occurred at Christchurch Hospital. This study assesses the effect industrial action had on relatives of those Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients involved.


METHODS
A written questionnaire was sent to the relatives of the 17 patients on Intensive Care around the time of the strike; 11 of these patients had needed to be transferred to out of region hospitals for continuing care, whilst the others remained in the intensive care unit. Comparisons were made with a control group of 26 next-of-kin.


RESULTS
Compared with relatives of patients not involved in the strike, relatives involved during the strike were significantly more angry (p<0.007) and less trusting that the patients had received the best possible care (p<0.05). Compared to the control group, they were also more negative in their continuing view of the healthcare system (p<0.05). Those relatives involved in air transfers were more distressed (p<0.05), angry (p<0.001), and less trusting than those not involved in a transfer (p<0.005).


CONCLUSIONS
The study shows that industrial action caused measurable distress and anxiety to the relatives involved some 16 months after the strike, especially in patients who were transferred. A persistent negative perception of the healthcare system in New Zealand could be demonstrated in this group.
Dzendrowskyj
Peter
P
Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Middlemore Hospital, Otahuhu, Auckland, New Zealand. Pdzendro@middlemore.co.nz
Shaw
Geoff
G
Johnston
Lucy
L
D000786:Anger; D001294:Attitude to Health; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D009520:New Zealand; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital; D010360:Patient Transfer; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D013317:Strikes, Employee; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014789:Visitors to Patients / Q000523:psychology; D000078329:Workforce