ICU patient's transfer anxiety: A prospective cohort study

SummaryObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to quantify the levels of anxiety experienced by Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients just before transfer to the ward and then twice after transfer to the ward in order to test the hypothesis that anxiety levels would change over the three data collection periods.DesignA prospective, repeated measure cohort study.SettingA Level 3 ICU in an Australian teaching hospital. The ICU had a liaison nurse service Monday to Friday but there was no medical emergency team service at the time of the study.SubjectsAll adult ICU patients who remained in ICU for greater than 24 h were eligible for the study.Main outcome measuresMeasurements of anxiety were undertaken using self report on the anxiety subscale of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-A) on three occasions; after patients were told of their imminent transfer to the ward (Time 1), after 4 h on the ward (Time 2) and after one night on the ward (Time 3).ResultsIn the 3 months of study 249 patients were admitted to the ICU. However, only 55 (22%) patients were eligible to participate and 44 (80% of the eligible patients) consented. Thirty-five patients (64% of eligible patients) completed all measurement points and represent the final sample. The mean anxiety levels remained low at all measurement points and did not change over time. Anxiety was present in six (17%) patients at Time 1, in three (6.8%) patients at Time 2, and in two (4.5%) patients at Time 3.ConclusionThis small study provides a start to the prospective mapping of anxiety levels on time of transfer and shortly after transfer from an ICU to the wards. It also provides information to researchers who want to examine ICU transfer anxiety. By understanding the anxiety experienced by ICU patients, nurses are better able to provide psychological support and thus more holistic care to this group of patients.