Date of Award
Fall 1988
Document Type
Thesis - Restricted
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Nursing
Abstract
A descriptive study was done to identify and compare coping behaviors utilized by patients and their families when faced with the stress of critical illness, and determine what nursing interventions were used to facilitate coping during critical illness. Research questions posed were: 1) What do patients and their families usually utilize as means of coping with stress? 2) What do patients and their families utilize as means of coping with the stress of critical illness? 3) Do patients and their families utilize the same coping strategies? 4) Who does the patient and family identify as most helpful in coping with critical illness? 5) What nursing measures do patients and their families identify that enhance their coping? 6) What do nurses identify as measures to facilitate patient and family coping with critical illness? The study was conducted in a tertiary care, 284 bed private hospital. A convenience sample of 15 critically ill patients and 15 family members completed the Jalowiec Coping Scale (JCS) and responded to a six item semistructured questionnaire. Fifteen nurses who cared for the patients responded to a five item questionnaire. Coping methods on the JCS frequently used by patients and families were compared using a paired t-test resulting in a significant difference between patient and family member scores on the problem-oriented subscale. Family members reported a significantly higher use of problem oriented strategies than the patients (t=2.69, p <.02). Although family members reported a slightly greater use of coping methods than patients and patients used affective oriented strategies more than the families, these findings were not significant. The rank ordering for frequency of use on the 40 items on the JCS revealed that four of the five most frequently used strategies were the same for both groups. These included: prayer and trust in God, hope, looking at the problem objectively and finding out more about the situation. The least frequently used strategies were the same for both groups. These included: let someone else solve problem, blaming someone else for problems, drinking alcohol, and taking drugs. There was a significant difference in scores for the patient and family group for nine of the items on the JCS, five of which were significant at the p<.01 level...
Recommended Citation
Wendelberger, Mary Pat, "Coping Behaviors Utilized by Patients and Their Families During Critical Illness" (1988). Master's Theses (1922-2009) Access restricted to Marquette Campus. 5520.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/theses/5520