Uncertainty and Transfer Anxiety of Pediatric Patients' Mothers upon Discharge from the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit

소아중환자실 퇴실 시 환아 어머니의 불확실성과 전동불안

Purpose: This study was done to investigate the level of uncertainty, transfer anxiety, and to identify the participant's characteristics those influence them by targeting the mothers of transferred patients from the pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) to the general ward. Methods: This study was a descriptive correlational study. The participants were 94 mothers of children who had been scheduled to transfer from the PICU. Results: The item mean score for uncertainty was 2.16 (4 scale), transfer anxiety was 2.15 (4 scale). There were statistically significant positive correlation between uncertainty and transfer anxiety (r=.591). The level of uncertainty significantly differed according to education level (p=.035), duration of marriage (p=.043), and monthly income (p=.022). The level of transfer anxiety significantly differed according to religion (p=.044), duration of marriage (p=.043), and severity of illness at transfer (p=.047). Conclusion: In order to reduce the transfer anxiety and uncertainty of the mothers of patients, efficient communication with medical staff and clear informations are needed to reduce ambiguity. Also, standard protocol should be developed for improving communication among medical staffs.