Date of Award
Fall 1981
Document Type
Thesis - Restricted
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Nursing
First Advisor
McLane, Audrey
Second Advisor
Fehring, Richard J.
Third Advisor
Ryan, Polly A.
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of providing procedural and sensory information as opposed to providing procedural information alone on distress and anxiety associated with suctioning intubated patients. The research hypotheses are that the intubated patients who receive sensory information in addition to procedural information will report less distress, less anxiety, and will exhibit fewer distress behaviors from sensations experienced during suctioning than intubated patients who receive procedural information alone. The study was conducted in a six hundred bed private hospital in a large midwestern city. The sample consisted of thirty coronary artery bypass surgery patients. Voluntary participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups. All subjects were asked to complete a State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Trait anxiety was measured pre-intervention. State anxiety was measured pre- and post-intervention. The investigator provided procedural information to Control Group subjects and sensory and procedural information to Experimental Group subjects. The day of surgery, when it was determined that the patient was ready for extubation, the investigator observed the patient being suctioned. The investigator and the nurse performing the suctioning completed the Distress Behavior Scale. Within fifteen minutes after suctioning, the patient completed a State Anxiety Scale and the Distress Scale. The means and standard deviations were calculated on the three dependent measures (State Anxiety scores, Distress Scale scores, and Distress Behavior Scale scores). The hypotheses were not supported using the t-test on the three measures between Groups. The Experimental Group had higher scores on the State Anxiety Scale and the Distress Scale to a nonsignificant degree and on the Distress Behavior Scale to a significant degree. It was concluded that providing sensory procedural information was no more effective than providing procedural information alone in decreasing anxiety and distress associated with suctioning intubated patients in this study. The findings do not support Johnson's past research with sensory information reducing distress. However, the nonsignificant difference in anxiety scores correlates with Johnson's findings on levels of fear. An explanation of the findings may be the varying bedside techniques of individual nurses just prior to suctioning. The findings may reflect a medication effect due to the larger number of subjects in the control group requiring medication. Recommendations for further research were discussed.
Recommended Citation
Sheppard, Kathleen Connerty, "The Effects of Sensory Information on Anxiety and Distress Associated with Suctioning Intubated Patients" (1981). Master's Theses (1922-2009) Access restricted to Marquette Campus. 3667.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/theses/3667