Experiences of nurses with assessment of fear’s symptoms in patient after stroke

Lenka Mazalová^*, Lenka Machálková^*, Marinella Danosová^*, Irena Opavská^**
* Palacký University in Olomouc, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing
^** Faculty Hospital Olomouc

Abstract

MAZALOVÁ, L. – MACHÁLKOVÁ, L. – DANOSOVÁ, M. – OPAVSKÁ, I. Experiences of nurses with assessment of fear’s symptoms in patient after stroke. In Ošetrovateľstvo: teória, výskum, vzdelávanie [online], 2018, vol. 8, no. 1, pp. 6-11. Available on: https://www.osetrovatelstvo.eu/archiv/2018-rocnik-8/cislo-1/zkusenosti-vseobecnych-sester-s-posouzenim-projevu-strachu-u-pacientu-po-cevni-mozkove-prihode.

Aim: The research aim was to describe the manifestations of fear among stroke patients based the opinions and experience of nurses caring for this group of patients.

Methodology and sample: A qualitative, descriptive study design was used. Data was acquired using semi-structured questionnaires in focus groups. 33 general nurses were deliberately selected based on inclusion criteria. The nurses were aged 22-60, with 2-40 years of work experience, mostly from secondary medical schools and general nurses’ specialists. All participants had previous experience with caring for stroke patients. A content analysis was performed and core areas of manifestations of fear were established among hospitalised patients in the acute phase after stroke.

Results: The content analysis showed two core themes of subjective and objective manifestations of fear among patients in the acute phase after stroke. The subjective manifestations include emotional experience of fear in of verbal expression of feelings of fear by the patient. Signs of non-verbal character focused on his mimic. Objective manifestations of fear were described as changes in patient’s behaviour regarding haptic contact, aggression, uncertainty and passivity. Physical functions have accelerated pulse and breath and increased blood pressure.

Conclusion: Knowing the manifestations of fear amongst stroke patients significantly contribute to improve effectiveness of nursing care. It enables the nurse to assess the specific needs of stroke patients. Consequently, the nursing professional can better plan nursing interventions which are aimed at reaching adequate quality of life in patients after stroke.

Keywords: fear, stroke, nurses, qualitative study

Full text (Slovak language)

Contact

Mgr. Lenka Mazalová, Ph.D.
Ústav ošetřovatelství FZV UP
Hněvotínská 976/3
775 15 Olomouc
Česká republika
E-mail: lenka.mazalova@upol.cz

Received: 10^th January 2018
Accepted: 16^th February 2018