Evaluation of the Relationship Between the Levels of Hope and Anxiety in Family Caregivers of Patients in Intensive Care Units

Abstract

Objective: Management of the intensive care process by family caregivers and high levels of hope may have positive effects on the recovery process of the intensive care unit (ICU) patients. This study analyzes the relationship between the levels of hope and anxiety in family caregivers of patients in ICUs. Materials and Methods: Family caregivers of the patients, who were hospitalized at seven adult ICUs in city İstanbul, constituted the universe of the study. A sample of the study comprised 99 voluntary family caregivers. Descriptive and sociodemographic Information form, the Dispositional Hope scale, and State-Trait Anxiety scale were used for data collection. One-Way analysis of variance, independent sample t-test, and Pearson’s correlation was used for data analysis. Results: In the study, the hope levels of the participants were found to be “high” and their anxiety levels were found to be “moderate.” Patients’ age, and the family caregivers’ marital status, and levels of education and income did not affect the levels of hope and anxiety. However, age, the changes in family relations and life at home, and being sufficiently informed about the patient’s condition influenced the levels of anxiety and hope in family caregivers. Conclusion: There was a negative relationship between the levels of hope and anxiety in family caregivers of the adult ICU patients.

Keywords

• anxiety
• family caregivers
• hope
• intensive care unit
• nursing