Investigation of the relation of environmental stressors perceived by patients in surgical intensive care units and comfort level

Aim: To determine the relationship between the environmental stressors and the comfort level perceived by the patients in the surgical intensive care unit. Material and Method: This study, which was conducted in a descriptive, cross-sectional and correlational design, was carried out with 108 patients who were hospitalized in Konya Selcuklu Practice and Research Hospital General Surgery Intensive Care Units between 05/11/2021-30/03/2022. Individuals over 18 years of age, conscious, not impaired in speech and comprehension, being in the intensive care unit for 24-72 hours, not receiving any psychiatric diagnosis and treatment, and not connected to mechanical ventilator were included in the sample. The data of the study were collected by the researcher face-to-face using the "Patient Description Form", "Intensive Care Unit Environmental Stressors Scale" (ICUSSQ) and "General Comfort Scale" (GCS). Data were analyzed using SPSS 22 statistical package program, using mean, median, percentage, Independent sample T test, One-way Analysis of Variance, Kruskal Wallis Analysis of Variance, Pearson correlation coefficient, multiple linear regression. Result: 58.30% of the patients were women, 77.80% were married, 63.90% were primary school graduates, 80.60% were on the third day of their stay in the intensive care unit, 63% were not hospitalized in the intensive care unit before, and 60.20% were satisfied with the care and treatment they received. was found to be. The total mean score of the patients' ICUSSQ was 139.10±17.28, and the mean total score of GCS was 129.48±11.21. It has been determined that the number of days of hospitalization in the intensive care unit, the presence of a chronic disease and the patient's being affected by environmental stressors affect the environmental stressors perceived in the intensive care unit. It was found that gender, marital status, previous experience of staying in the intensive care unit, the patient's exposure to environmental stressors, and satisfaction with care and treatment affect general comfort. It was determined that there was no statistically significant correlation between the YBÜÇS total score and the total GCS score (r: 0.058; p> 0.05). Conclusion: It was determined that the environmental stressors perceived by the individuals in the surgical intensive care unit were high and their comfort levels were above the middle. It is important for nurses to make the necessary planning and evaluations to increase the satisfaction with care and treatment, to ensure the comfort of the patients and to reduce environmental stressors.