The effects of environmental stressors in intensive care unit on anxiety and depression

Abstract

Background: Physical and emotional conditions of patients treated in an intensive care unit (ICU) may be adversely affected by environmental stressors. Aims and objectives:The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between patients' anxiety and depression levels and environmental stressors in the ICU.Design: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study. Methods: The study was conducted between June 2018 and April 2019 with 150 patients treated in the ICUs of a training and research hospital. Patient information form and ICU environmental stressors and hospital anxiety and depression scales were used for data collection. Descriptive statistics, t-test, one-way analysis of variance, and Pearson's correlation coefficient were used to evaluate the data. Results:The mean hospital anxiety score of the patients in ICUs was 11.1 ± 2.7, and 77.3% of patients were at risk for anxiety (10-point cut-off). The mean hospital depression score was 10.6 ± 3.3, and 94% of patients were at risk for depression (7-point cut-off). The mean score of environmental stressors was 123.9 ± 13.1.A moderate positive correlation between hospital anxiety and hospital depression (r = .63, P < .001) and a weak negative correlation between environmental stressors and hospital anxiety (r = −.24, P = .003) were found. However, no significant correlation between environmental stressors and hospital depression was found (r = −.13, P = .12). Conclusion:According to this study, the environmental stressors in the ICU were high, and the patients were at risk of anxiety and depression. The depression levels of the patients increased along with their anxiety levels. As environmental stressors increased, hospital anxiety levels of the patients decreased. However, there was no significant relationship between environmental stressors and patients' hospital depression levels.

Factors associated with sleep quality in patients undergoing cardiac surgery: A longitudinal study

“…Previous studies also reported that relaxing interventions such as earplugs, eye masks, muscle relaxation, posture and relaxation training, and educational strategies may be beneficial for improving the sleep quality of cardiac surgery patients 30,31 . Moreover, a negative correlation was found between environmental stressors in the ICU and hospital anxiety 32 . Therefore, it is suggested that nursing care may involve the implementation of these relaxing interventions to reduce the impact of environmental factors and improve the sleep quality of cardiac surgery patients.…”

“…30,31 Moreover, a negative correlation was found between environmental stressors in the ICU and hospital anxiety. 32 Therefore, it is suggested that nursing care may involve the implementation of these relaxing interventions to reduce the impact of environmental factors and improve the sleep quality of cardiac surgery patients.…”

A Neurobiological Framework for the Therapeutic Potential of Music and Sound Interventions for Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms in Critical Illness Survivors

“…The combination of life-threatening illness or injury, along with the impact of potentially traumatic experiences in the ICU can contribute to the development of PTSD [ 7 , 17 , 18 ]. Potential traumatic experiences during critical illness are associated with awareness during painful procedures, such as intubation, sense of helplessness, hallucinations, loss of control and fear of death [ 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 ]. The specific ICU-related risk factors include in-hospital stress, ICU length of stay and mechanical ventilation, delirium, use of sedatives and analgesics, high disease severity and negative ICU experience [ 4 , 23 , 24 ].…”

The Effect of Environmental Stressors on Patient Experience in Medical, Surgical, and COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit

“…Studies have reported that patients followed up in ICUs are exposed to high levels of stress ( 1 , 2 ). The influence of constant light exposure in ICUs, the proximity of the patient beds, the hasty attitudes of nurses, frequent waking of patients for various interventions, loud talking, death of other patients, crying and moaning of painful patients, and sleep disturbances are stressors ( 1 , 3 ). These interrelated environmental stressors negatively affect patients’ intensive care experience ( 4 , 5 ).…”