The Assay of Social and Mental Health Status of Family Members of Patients in Intensive Care Units Download PDF

Objectives: Family members of patients who are at risk of death, experience issues such as decision-making, and concerns about patient treatment that provides the background for psychological symptoms. The present study was aimed to determine the social and mental health status of family members of patients in intensive care units of hospitals in AL Zahra Hospital. Methods: This cross-sectional study was done on 57 immediate family members of patients in intensive care units of AL Zahra Hospital. The data was collected via standard questionnaires keys social health in five domain of social prosperity, social solidarity, social cohesion, social acceptance and social participation (20 items) and GHQ mental health in four areas of depression, anxiety, somatic symptoms, impairment of social functioning (28 items).In order to analyze the data SPSS software and descriptive statistics were used. Results: The findings indicate that participants in this study include 74.1%male and 19% female, and their aged were between 56-17years,and their education level were (48.3% below Diploma, 6.9% degree, 19% bachelor and 12.1% graduate) that they were settled in periphery of the city (37.9%), South City (8.6%) , Downtown (20.7%) and North City (17.2).77.6% were weak in mental health (depression 87.9%, anxiety 89.7%, somatic symptoms 86.2%, impaired social functioning 87.9%) and 55.2% of partners were poor in social health (Social prosperity75.9 % Social Solidarity 84.9%, Social Cohesion 4/91%, Social acceptance 79.3%, and Social involvement 84.5%). Conclusion: According to the obtained result of this study, hospitalization of a family member in hospital particularly intensive care units, impose a lot of mental and social pressures to family members. So the factors associated with stress, anxiety and mood swings should identify and to improve, maintain and promote mental health and social, policies such as using family-centered care should stablish. Furthermore, the opportunity to meet more and giving information to the family members about treatment will help to improve the social and psychological needs of family members of patients in intensive care units.