Investigating Factors causing Discomfort in Patients Hospitalized in Critical Care Units

patients hospitalized in ICU experience considerably discomfort due to special condition of ICU and particular situation of their illness but these patients cannot express their discomfort. Therefore, this study was conducted aimed to determine the rate of discomfort and its related factors in patients hospitalized in ICU.

this descriptive cross- sectional study was conducted on 220 hospitalized patients in state hospitals of Mashhad from September 2012 to September 2013 through accessible sampling. Perceived discomfort, the most important experienced discomfort and its rate during hospitalization were measured before discharge of ICU by an open-ended question and a researcher made questionnaire. Data were analyzed by SPSS: 11.5.

minimum score of discomfort was 61 and maximum score was 210. The mean of discomfort was 86.54± 17.5. Therefore around 100% of participants experienced some extent of discomfort in ICU. More than 50% of patients reported the frequent blood sampling, feeling of thirst, feeling of loneliness, Pain, limited visiting, insomnia, hospitalization expenses, anxiety and fatigue as sources for their discomforts.

As to the finding, discomfort incidence in hospitalized patient in ICU is high. As the sources of discomfort such as frequent blood sampling, feeling of thirst, feeling of loneliness, pain, limited visiting etc could be modified, it is recommended to use effective strategies in order to decrease and modify these factors by managers, administrators especially nurses of ICU.Key words: Patient, intensive care, Discomfort factors