Effects of phased discharge process for ICU patients on separation anxiety of their family members

Abstract

Objective To explore the effects of phased discharge process for ICU patients on separation anxiety of their family members. Methods From October 2018 to December 2018, we selected 136 family members of patients discharged from ICU at Xinxiang Central Hospital by convenience sampling as subjects. Family members were randomly divided into group of routine discharge (n=66) and group of phased discharge (n=70) . Group of routine discharge carried routine discharge process. Group of phased discharge process implemented phased discharge process which divided discharge process into four stages including after condition stabilizing, 24 hours before discharge, on the discharge day and 24 hours after discharge and provided different nursing keys. The separation experience and depression as well as anxiety were evaluated with the Peritraumatic Dissociative Experiences Questionnaire (PDEQ) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) before and after intervention. Results After intervention, the scores of PDEQ of two groups decreased compared with those before intervention (t=-11.763, -27.172) ; besides, the score of PDEQ in group of phased discharge was lower than that in group of routine discharge (t=-28.441) ; the ratios of family members with the scores of PDEQ<1.20 and ranged from 1.20 to 2.00 in group of phased discharge were higher than those in group of routine discharge respectively. After intervention, the scores of HAD-A and HAD-D and total score in HADS between two groups all decreased compared with those before intervention; the dimension scores and total score of group of phased discharge were lower than those of group of routine discharge (t=-6.881, -8.806, -9.111) . The differences were all significantly statistical (P<0.05) . Conclusions Phased discharge process can relieve separation experience in family members of ICU discharged patients, lower their anxiety and depression and improve their care ability. Key words: Intensive care units; Phased discharge; Anxiety, separation; Family members