Stressors of Post Cardiac Surgery Children in the ICU and Their Impaired Psychological Responses

심장수술환아의 ICU에서의 스트레스원과 심리적 손상반응에 관한 탐색적 연구

  • 신희선 (조선대학교 간호학과) ;
  • 김동옥 (서울대학교병원 소아중환자실) ;
  • 홍경자 (서울대학교 간호대학)
  • Published : 1992.07.30

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the stressors in pediatric intensive care unit and impaired psychological responses of children after open heart surgery. Sixteen children aged 6 to 11, who were admitted to the hospital for open heart surgery during the period from July, 1991 to February, 1992 were the subjects of the study. Observations, drawings, and interviews were used to collect data for study. Behavioral responses about intensive care unit phenomena were analyzed according to the 4 categories identified to assess children's perceived stressors in ICU. Impaired psychological responses were examined using observational and interview data. Drawings were analyzed by content and color by this researcher and validated by the psychologist. The findings were as follows : 1. The most frequently perceived stressors by children in ICU were the physical stressors causing pain and discomfort(68.5%). It was followed by social stressors which denote disruption of relationship with family and friends(13.0% ), environmental stressors which denote unfamiliar surroundings, noise, staff, and other patients (11.2%), and psychological stressors which denote factors affecting self-esteem such as inability to communicate and inadquate knowledge of the situation (7.3%). 2. 81.3% of the children showed of least one of the impaired psychological responses. Three children (18.8%) experienced time disorientation. An equal number of subject experienced perceptual illusion. Two children(12.5%) experienced hallucination. Vivid dream about ICU phenomena was reported by 2 children. Seven children(43.8%) were identified as having exaggerated fear. They feared about oxygen mask and ICU environment in general. Seven children(43.8%) experienced impairment of memory about treatments, procedures, and environment of ICU. 3. The analysis of children's drawing revealed that 56.3% of children experienced fear in the ICU. 75% of children included nurses in the drawings and 62.5% of children drew other children. 81.3% of children drew and identified himself in the drawing. The colors used most by children were green, purple, and brown. From this result, it is recommended to prepare children before open heart surgery to reduce their stressors and impaired psychological responses in ICU.

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