Coping strategies of family members of intensive care unit patients

Abstract

ObjectiveTo analyse the coping strategies of family members of patients admitted to intensive care units. DesignA cross-sectional study developed with 70 relatives of patients admitted to the intensive care unit. SettingAn adult intensive care unit at a university hospital in Brazil. Main Outcome MeasuresCoping strategies were identified by the Folkman and Lazarus Inventory of Coping Strategies and statistically compared to the sociodemographic data of family members and patients’ clinical data. ResultsCoping strategies focused on emotion were the most used, especially those attributed to the escape-avoidance factor. There was a significant association (p < 0.05) between women and the use of adaptive strategies focused on the problem; less education and lower income with maladaptive strategies focused on emotion; second-degree relatives and the positive reassessment factor; participants involved in religious activities and the social support factor. Regarding the clinical variables, patients admitted to the intensive care unit for more than seven days showed an association (p < 0.05) with the social support factor. ConclusionFamily members used adaptive coping strategies more focused on emotion. Additionally, the lower the educational and economic levels, the greater the use of maladaptive strategies focused on emotion.