Distressful events in the ICU as perceived by patients recovering from coronary artery bypass surgery.

OBJECTIVE

To determine what events are perceived as most stressful to patients in the surgical intensive care unit (SICU).

DESIGN

Descriptive cross-sectional survey.

PATIENTS

One hundred twenty-seven patients who had undergone coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) at 48 hours after their transfer from the SICU.

OUTCOME MEASURE

Stressful events as perceived by patients while in the SICU determined by 25 specific items on a questionnaire rated on a Likert scale ranging from 1 (no distress) to 4 (extremely distressful).

RESULTS

Two stressors, being intubated and not being able to talk, were significantly more stressful, by Newman-Keuls multiple range test, than all the other stressors. The mean stressfulness score for all other stressors was between no distress and mild distress.

CONCLUSION

Overall stress associated with specific events during a short stay in the SICU was minimal. Intubation and inability to communicate were the most stressful experiences.