암환자가족이 지각하는 수술대기중 불안과 불확실성 및 의료인의 지지

Uncertainty, Medical Staff's Support, and Anxiety Perceived by Family Members with Patients Undergoing Surgery for Cancer

Purpose: This study was to assess relationships among the uncertainty, medical staff's support, and anxiety perceived by family members with cancer patients while the family members were waiting for their patients undergoing surgery. Method: The data were collected from the family members of cancer patients who were undergoing surgery in D University Hospital at B city from February 1 to April 12, 2005. The used instruments were the State Anxiety Scale of Spielberger's(1975) STAI, Mishel's Uncertainty in Illness Scale (MUIS)(1981), and Relationship Questionnaires (Lee, 1978). The collected data was analyzed by using t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's coefficients, and stepwise multiple regression. Results: As the result, the most influential variable explaining anxiety of family members was uncertainty $({\ss}=0.37)$, followed by perceived illness state $({\ss}=-0.27)$. These two variables simultaneously explained 29.3% of the variance in anxiety. Conclusion: We suggest to develop a nursing intervention program to reduce the uncertainty through the medical staff's support and o test its effects.