Medical-Surgical Differences in Hospital Stress Factors

Abstract

Psychosocial stress due to the experience of hospitalization was ascertained for 535 medical and surgical patients in a community hospital, using a Hospital Stress Rating Scale, Medical-surgical differences along nine dimensions of stress as measured by this scale were examined, using analysis of covariance to control for the effects of patient characteristics known to be associated with scores on the Hospital Stress Rating Scale. The controlled variables were age, education, number of previous hospitalizations, number of years since last hospitalization, and seriousness of illness (Seriousness of Illness Rating Scale). The analysis of covariance results indicated higher perceived stress for surgical patients on the dimensions of unfamiliarity of surroundings, loss of independence, and threat of severe illness. Medical patients scored higher on the dimensions of stress due to financial problems and lack of information. The authors discuss how these findings might be incorporated in experimental studies designed to reduce stress among hospital patients.

Stress-induced enhancement of leukocyte trafficking into sites of surgery or immune activation

“…Adults also mount a similar physiological response upon seeing an approaching syringe (generally minus the howling!). In fact, most surgical (32,33) and dental (34,35) procedures are known to be stressful. Gelatin sponges are widely used in surgical and dental treatment to induce hemostasis and fill wound cavities (10)(11)(12)(13).…”

Preference for a single or shared room in a UK inpatient hospice: patient, family and staff perspectives

“…These include being with patients who are unfriendly, have a lot of visitors, or who are very ill,10 – 12 confused or agitated 3. Within a palliative care setting, watching and hearing other patients dying can be acutely distressing for some patients,4 particularly if they had formed a bond with a patient 13.…”

Perceived Uncertainty and Stress in Illness

“…Based on the theoretical association and prior findings (Mishel, 1981b), uncertainty is a significant predictor of stress. The exogenous variables of age, education, seriousness of illness, and recency of prior hospitalization, some of which were associated with stress in prior studies (Volicer et al, 1977), were expected to continue to evidence an association. Findings from a previous study supporting the relationship between (Mishel, 1981b) also were expected to replicate in this study.…”