A description of the needs of family members of patients hospitalized in a coronary care unit

Author

Theresa L. Renfro

Date of Award

12-1991

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Nursing

Major Professor

Mary Lue Jolly

Committee Members

Mildred Fenske, Inez Tuck

Abstract

The purpose of this descriptive, qualitative study was to identify the needs of family members of patients hospitalized in a coronary care unit for 24-48 hours. The participants were 8 spouses of patients hospitalized in a coronary care unit for less than 48 hours. The instrument used was developed by the investigator and included four open-ended questions with probes. Eight qualitative content analyses at the latent level were performed on the data obtained from structured interviews. A five-step process adapted from Colazzi (1978) was used to organized the data inductively into categories. The following nine categories of needs were identified: information, support, proximity, assurance, comfort, helpful, express feelings, express thoughts, and reflect. The findings indicated that all of the participants had all nine categories of needs. Implications for nursing practice and research were presented.

Recommended Citation

Renfro, Theresa L., "A description of the needs of family members of patients hospitalized in a coronary care unit. " Master's Thesis, University of Tennessee, 1991.
https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_gradthes/12513