Evaluation of Stress Factors in ICU and CCU Patients with Emphasis upon Their Religious Beliefs

Background- We sought to study stress, and in particular environmental, psychological and treatment-related stress factors, in coronary care unit (CCU) and intensive care unit (ICU) patients with particular emphasis upon their religious beliefs. Method- Four hundred patients upon discharge from the CCU or ICU were asked to answer a standard questionnaire, composed of demographic data; 5 faith-based questions; 36 questions about treatment-related factors; 9 questions about environmental factors; and 3 questions about psychological factors. The data were analyzed with the SPSS software, as well as Chisquare, ANOVA and nonparametric correlations tests. Quantification of the severity of the said factors was done by allocating the number one for the non-provocation of the stress factors and the number 6 for the highest severity of the stress factors. Result- Data having been collected and statistical analysis having been carried out, the severity of the stress factors was divided into the three categories of mild (mean: 1-2.99), medium (mean: 3-3.99) and severe (mean: 4-5.99). The results are as follows: a) Treatment-related stress factors when treatment was administered by the same-sex hospital staff (mean: 1.38) were mild; whereas the severity of the same factors, when treatment was provided by members of the opposite sex, increased (mean: 1.73), b) Environmental stress factors (mean: 2.08) were mild, and c) Psychological stress factors (mean: 3.2) were medium. Conclusion- In the management of stress factors, apart from concentration, relaxation, exercise, sleep, etc., patients’ beliefs and faith warrant great emphasis in as much as they make an enormous contribution to a speedier recovery (Iranian Heart Journal 2006; 7 (3):25-37).