Environmental Stressors Perceived by Patients in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to determine the environmental stressors perceived by patients admitted to the surgical intensive care unit. Materials and Methods: This is a descriptive and cross-sectional study. The sample of the study comprised 83 patients hospitalized in the surgical intensive care unit. Data were obtained from the Patient Information Form and the Intensive Care Unit Environmental Stressor scale. Results: Patients hospitalized in the surgical intensive care unit identified the most critical stressors as experiencing pain, inability to sleep, lack of privacy, getting bored, and short family and friends visit time, whereas the minor stressful factors were identified as hearing phone sounds, nurses who are more concerned with bedside devices than the patients, and constantly looking at the ceiling. Conclusion: Environmental stressors affecting patients in the intensive care unit should be identified and eliminated. This initiative will prevent new stress-related health problems and improve patient quality care.