Patients' perceptions of stress at the intensive therapy unit

Abstract

The Intensive Therapy Unit (ITU) is perceived as a stressful environment for patients. This dissertation is a research about what former Intensive Therapy Unit (ITU) patients at Malta's state hospital perceive to be factors that caused them stress during their stay at the ITU and what they perceive to be factors that would reduce the amount of stress in the unit. Structured interviews were held with 21 pa tients shortly after they were transferred to another ward. All patients transferred from the ITU were interviewed except for two who could not be interviewed because they were not in a position to participate. The results indicated that patients perceive having lights constantly on was the greatest cause of stress. This was fol lowed by lack of sleep which could be the result of the former cause of stress. Pain and the inability to communicate properly were identified as another source of stress. Being given more information about what is going to happen was seen as the most important factor for reducing stress. It is being proposed that action is taken to rectify this by introducing a circadian cycle to compliment the body's circadian rhythm and to give patients the option of using an eye mask and earplugs. It is sug gested that ITU staff should be made aware of the major causes of stress amongst the patients and that simple communication tools and techniques are introduced to improve communications and staff trained to use them. Further research focusing on particular factors that cause stress should be carried out in the future.