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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2011 Mar 10.
Published in final edited form as: Am J Crit Care. 2011 Jan;20(1):12–23. doi: 10.4037/ajcc2011243

Table 5.

Caregiver-perceived distress according to problem behavior of patient (N = 69)a

Caregiver-perceived distress
1 month
6 months
Patient’s problem behavior No. (%) of yes
responses
Mean SD No. (%) of item
scores ≥ 2
No. (%) of yes
responses
Mean SD No. (%) of item
scores ≥ 2
χ2 P
Having difficulty in doing things for self 47 (68) 0.9 1.2 15 (22) 25 (36) 0.6 1.1 13 (19) 4.6 .03b

Being anxious or worried 44 (64) 1.0 1.1 19 (28) 37 (54) 0.8 1.1 19 (28) 4.9 .03b

Having pain or discomfort 41 (59) 1.1 1.2 24 (35) 37 (54) 1.0 1.4 20 (29) 11. 9 <.001b

Appearing sad or distressed 36 (52) 0.9 1.2 19 (28) 29 (42) 0.7 1.1 18 (26) 11.3 .001b

Arguing, irritable, or complaining 30 (44) 0.6 1.0 12 (17) 22 (32) 0.5 0.9 9 (13) 5.3 .02b

Having trouble falling asleep 29 (42) 0.5 0.8 11 (16) 26 (38) 0.5 0.9 9 (13) 6.5 .01b

Crying or tearful 26 (38) 0.7 1.2 16 (23) 18 (26) 0.5 1.1 13 (19) 8.7 .003b

Making comments about feeling worthless or being a burden to others 25 (36) 0.4 0.9 7 (10) 21 (30) 0.6 1.1 13 (19) 16.2 <.001b

Having difficulty understanding people 22 (32) 0.4 0.8 6 (9) 13 (19) 0.2 0.5 3 (4) 0.3 .57

Having difficulty in swallowing 21 (30) 0.4 1.0 8 (12) 16 (23) 0.3 0.7 5 (7) 14.4 <.001b

Having problems with hearing 21 (30) 0.3 0.7 5 (7) 14 (20) 0.3 0.8 5 (7) 13.9 <.001b

Having difficulty in following directions 20 (29) 0.3 0.8 5 (7) 15 (22) 0.2 0.5 4 (6) 5.5 .02b

Expressing feelings of hopelessness or sadness about the future 19 (28) 0.6 1.1 12 (17) 18 (26) 0.5 1.0 12 (17) 18.7 <.001b

Waking up others at night 14 (20) 0.1 0.5 3 (4) 15 (22) 0.2 0.6 3 (4) 4.6 .03b

Making comments about feeling like a failure or about not having any worthwhile accomplishment in life 9 (13) 0.1 0.5 3 (4) 12 (17) 0.3 0.8 6 (9) 5.3 .02b

Making comments about death of self or others 10 (15) 0.3 0.9 5 (7) 11 (16) 0.4 1.0 7 (10) 10.1 .001b

Having nightmares 7 (10) 0.1 0.6 3 (4) 9 (13) 0.2 0.7 3 (4) 1.7 .20

Engaging in behaviors that are potentially dangerous to self or others 5 (7) 0.1 0.4 2 (3) 8 (12) 0.2 0.7 4 (6) 0.7 .40

Caregiver-perceived distress total score 8.9 9.3 7.9 9.6
a

Caregiver-perceived distress at 1 month and at 6 months after discharge from the intensive care unit reflected by the percentage of caregivers who reported problem behavior, item means, and percentage of caregivers who were moderately, very much, or extremely bothered or upset by the patient’s problem behavior (item score ≥2).

b

χ2 test shows a difference in the proportion of caregivers who identified the presence of each behavior at 1 month and at 6 months after discharge from the intensive care unit.