A Descriptive Study to Assess the Level of Stress and Coping Mechanism Among Family Members of Clients Admitted in Critical Care Units of Shri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara Hospital Dharwad

Background: Stress is a universal phenomenon, and condition in which the human system responds to changes in its normal balanced state. All people experience it, stress can have a both positive and negative effect. Aims and objectives: 1.To assess the level of stress among family members of client admitted in critical care unit. 2. To examine the coping among family members of client admitted in critical care unit.3. To find out the association between level of stress and coping among family members of clients and their selected personal variables admitted in critical care units of Shri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara Hospital Dharwad. Design: A descriptive survey design was adopted , Sample and sampling technique: Non-probability convenient sampling technique was used for data adopted from 60 family members of clients. Tools: Data was collected with the help of following Tools; the perceived stress scale, ways of coping scale. Result: Data was analysed by using descriptive and inferential statistics. The mean stress score among family members was 42.68 and the median score was 43 with standard deviation of ±7.08, the means score of ways of coping was 58.28 and the median score was 59 with standard deviation of ±11.60. the study findings showed that the level of stress experienced by the Family members of client admitted in ICU .Majority of 54 (90 %) members were moderately stressed and 1(1.66 %) were mild stress and 5(8.3%)severely stressed. The level of ways of coping experienced by the Family members of client admitted in ICU. Majority of 50 (83.3 %) were able to cope some extent, 0(00%) were able to cope effectively, and 10 (16.6%) were not able to cope. Chi- square stress value is significant for variable like, gender, religion, Number of hospital stay and Occupation. The obtained chi-squares values for the variables like. age, domicile, marital status , family income, type of family, admission to hospital , relationship to the patient were not significant at 0.05 levels. Chi- square coping value is significant for variable like, religion, Number of hospital stay and Occupation. The obtained chi-squares values for the variables like. age, gender domicile, marital status , family income, type of family, admission to hospital, relationship to the patient were not significant at 0.05 levels. CONCLUSSION: Research needs to focus on the impact of stress and coping among family members of clients admitted in critical care units. A nurse plays a vital role both medical and surgical intensive care unit. Innovative approach has to be initiated in this field.