Effect of Family Participation in ICU Patients Care on Family's Anxiety level

Hospitalization of patients in ICU can be stressful for both patients and their families. This study aimed to assess the effect of family participation in ICU patients care on family’s anxiety level.

This is a quasi-experimental before-after study. Family members of patients hospitalized in ICU of Ayatollah Mousavi Hospital, Zanjan were randomly divided into two experimental and control groups. Family members of the experimental group patients collaborated with the nurses in their patients care two hours a day from the 3rd day to the 7th day of the hospitalization. The control group patients were treated according to the ICU routine. Participants in both groups filled out the DASS-21 questionnaire before and after the intervention. Data were analyzed using the t-test in the SPSS-16.

There was a significant difference in the anxiety score among the participants in the intervention group before (21.6±8.4) and after the intervention (12.6±7) (p<0.001).

The result of the study indicated that the participation of the family members of patients hospitalized in the ICU in patients care can be effective in decreasing their stress and anxiety.