Anxiety Levels and Needs of the Fathers Having Children Hospitalized in the Pediatric Surgery Intensive Care Unit

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to determine the anxiety levels and needs of the fathers whose children were hospitalized in the Pediatric Surgery Intensive Care Unit.
METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted with the fathers of children hospitalized in the Pediatric Surgery Intensive Care Unit in 2016/2017by using the Critical Care Family Needs Inventory, and State and Trait Anxiety Scale Setting: Turkey, a university hospital.
RESULTS: The study included 113 fathers. The fathers’ mean age was 36.6 ± 6.31. There was a weak positive correlation between the scores the fathers obtained from the State Anxiety Scale and the Critical Care Family Needs Inventory. There was a difference between the fathers’ intensive care needs in terms of their education levels. While "feeling that hospital personnel are attentive to the patient" was important for 92% of the fathers, "being sure that as much care as possible is given” for was important 88.5% and "being informed about the patient at least once a day" was important for 85.8%.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The anxieties and needs of the fathers of the patients staying in the Pediatric Surgery Intensive Care Unit were high, particularly in those with low educational level. Health professionals should be aware of fathers’ feelings, needs and stressors so that they can provide interventions specific to fathers