Shame feeling in the Intensive Care Unit patient's family members.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the levels of internal and external shame among family members of critically ill patients. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY/ DESIGN: This prospective study was conducted in 2012/2013 on family members of Intensive Care Unit patients using the Others As Shamer Scale and the Experiential Shame Scale questionnaires. SETTING: Greek university hospital. RESULTS: Two hundred and twenty-three family members mean-aged (41.5±11.9) were studied, corresponding to 147 ICU patients. Out of these 223, 81 (36.3%) were men and 142 (63.7%) were women, while 79 (35.4%) lived with the patient. Family members who lived with the patient experienced higher internal and external shame compared to those who did not live with the patient (p=0.046 and p=0.028 respectively). Elementary and Junior High School graduates scored significantly higher than the other grades graduates in total Others As Shamer Scale, inferiority and emptiness scale (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Intensive Care Unit patients' family members are prone to shame feelings, especially when being of low educational level. Health professionals have to take into consideration the possible implications for the patients and their care.

Symptoms of Cardiac Anxiety in Family Members of Intensive Care Unit Patients.

BACKGROUND: Studies have shown an association between intensive care unit environments and symptoms of psychological distress in family members of critically ill patients. OBJECTIVE: To investigate levels of cardiac anxiety in family members of intensive care unit patients. METHODS: From March 2012 to July 2013, on the third day after the patient's admission, 223 family members of 147 patients completed the Cardiac Anxiety Questionnaire. A total score was calculated from 3 subscales: fear and worry about heart sensations, avoidance of activities reproducing cardiac symptoms, and heart-focused attention and monitoring of cardiac activity. RESULTS: Among the family members, 142 were women (63.7%) and 81 (36.3%) were men, 150 (67.3%) were married, and 37 (16.6%) were unemployed. Their mean score for overall cardiac anxiety was 1.11 (SD, 0.64), significantly higher (P < .001) than for the general Greek population. Although all 3 subscales scores were significantly higher than for the general population, the highest score was recorded for the avoidance subscale (mean, 1.77; SD, 0.68). The relationship to the patient had a significant effect on heart-focused attention (F5 = 3.51; P = .03). The mean score for patients' siblings (2.0; SD, 0.01) differed significantly (P = .02) from the mean for other family member groups. Older adults (P = .02) and married participants (P = .05) reported higher levels of fear and worry related to cardiac stimuli, and women further reported higher levels of cardioprotective avoidance behavior (P = .02). CONCLUSIONS: A noticeable number of family members of critical care patients had moderate to severe cardiac anxiety during the hospitalization of their relatives.