سارا سیستانی کرم پور

Hospitalization of patients in Intensive Care Units (ICU) often causes anxiety and psychological problems in family members. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of communication skills training to nurses on the anxiety in family members of patients admitted to ICUs.

This semi-experimental study was performed in the ICU of Golestan Hospital in Ahvaz in 2017.The population consisted of nurses and family members of patients of admitted to internal and neurology ICU. Internal ICU and neurology departments were randomly divided into two groups. The nurses of the internal ICU department were in the intervention group and the nurses of the neurology department were in the control group. Fifty-five family members of patients from each department were selected through convenience sampling method. A communication skills training workshop was held for the nurses of the intervention group in three consecutive days. Family members’ anxiety was evaluated using Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory the day of admission and the sixth day of hospitalization.

The results showed that there was no significant difference between the average anxiety scores of the intervention and control groups before the intervention (P=0.38), but there was a statistically significant difference between the average anxiety scores of the intervention and control groups after the intervention (P<0.001). The results showed that there is a significant difference between the average anxiety scores of the intervention group before and after the intervention (P<0.001), but in the control group, there was no statistically significant difference between the average anxiety scores before and after the intervention (P=0.61).

Based on the findings of the present study, communication skills training for nurses reduced the anxiety of patients' family members. Moreover, since the favorable mental state of families has a significant effect on caring for the patient, the use of this method is recommended as an effective strategy in supporting patients' families.