Aim

Illness and stay in hospital, especially in the Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Unit (AICU), is a huge stress for patients families. The aim of this study was to measure the level of stress among the relatives of patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit, to analyze their emotions and to assess the impact of sociodemographic and hospitalization-related variables on exacerbation of stress.

Material and methods

The study was conducted among 103 persons whose close ones were hospitalised in the ICU of the Voivodship Hospital in Gorzów Wielkopolski. Average age of respondents was 45±17 years. The study was carried out using a PSS-10 questionnaire and author’s questionnaire form.

Results

Studies showed that majority of respondents (76%) experienced high level of stress. Among people who were most influenced with the first impression of their close one or the medical equipment suffered from greater level of stress than people who did not recall this image (p<0.05).

Conclusions

A factor increasing stress of the relatives of patients staying in the AICU was the sight of their loved ones and of medical equipment in the patient’s room. The respondents had a high level of stress, however those of them who were able to establish healthy relationships with other people and focused on positive emotions coped with stress better than those who did not use stress-coping strategies.