Correlations between illness uncertainty and social support of family members of elder patients with colostomy

Abstract

Objective To investigate the illness uncertainty state of the family members of elder patients with colostomy, explore their correlation with social support. Methods A total of 138 family members of elder patients with colostomy in two hospitals from September 2013 to November 2014 were recruited in this study. The General Information Questionnaire, Mishel Uncertainty in Illness Scale-Family Member Form (MUIS-FM) and Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS)were used to investigate the family members of elder patients with colostomy and analyse the correlation between illness uncertainty of family members and its influencing factors and social support. Results The average total score of illness uncertainty was (72.17±9.44) scores. There was significantly different of the family members of elder patients with colostomy in total uncertainty on degree of education, the relationship with patient, stoma nature and economic conditions (P<0.05). The average total score of social support was (37.14±5.25) scores. The level of illness uncertainty was negatively associated with social support (r=-0.526, P<0.01). Conclusions The illness uncertainty was mostly in higher levels in the family members of elder patients with colostomy and was negatively correlated with social support. Clinical practice should improve social support of family members to relieve illness uncertainty, so as to provide better services of family and promote physical and psychological rehabilitation of patients. Key words: Colostomy; Aged; Family relations; Social support; Illness uncertainty