Family Needs and Anxiety in ICU: Cultural differences in Northeastern Ontario

Authors

  • Ellen E. Rukholm
  • Patricia H. Bailey
  • Ginette Coutu-Wakulczyk

Abstract

The complex biomédical skills required by intensive care unit (ICU) nurses are recognized and acknowledged. Yet, another less evident dimension of the complex technical practice of ICU nurses relates to dealing with the needs of patients' family members. This paper presents an aspect of a larger study of family needs and anxiety levels in a Northeastern Ontario population (Rukholm, Bailey, Coutu-Wakulczyk & Bailey, 1991). The aspect of this work to be presented here focuses on the influence of mother tongue on family needs and anxiety. For the purposes of this study mother tongue was used as a measure of culture. The concomitant variables measured included worries, knowledge and distance of the residence from the site of hospitalization. The purpose of the study was to seek information on the perceived needs of family members visiting a patient in an ICU of three hospitals located in Sudbury, Ontario. These three hospitals are regional centers for Northeastern Ontario so that many subjects had traveled considerable distance for medical care. Approximately 30% of families in the region identify themselves as francophone, the remaining families are predominantly anglophone. In order to provide appropriate nursing care the question of possible differences in the expression of needs and anxiety in these two language or cultural groups should be considered. Therefore the specific objectives of the study were: to describe the needs and anxiety (trait and situational) levels of adult family members; to determine the relationship between family needs and anxiety levels; and, to examine the influence of certain socio-demographic factors on the expression of needs and anxiety in these two language or cultural groups.

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Published

1991-04-13

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Section

Articles