Maria Sidiropoulou
1 
, Anna Kavga
1 , Georgia Gerogianni
1 , Michael Kourakos
2 , Georgios Vasilopoulos
1 , Maria Polikandrioti
1* , Alexandra Friligou
1 1 Department of Nursing, School of Health and Caring Sciences, University of West Attica, Athens, Greece
2 Department of Midwifery, School of Health Sciences, University of Western Macedonia, Ptolemaida, Greece
Abstract
Abstract
Introduction: Hospitalization is a stressful event for both patients and relatives. The aim of the
study was to explorefactors affecting state and trait anxiety of relatives of hospitalized patients.
Methods:In this cross-sectional study, was enrolled a convenience sample of 222 relatives
of hospitalized patients in a public hospital in Athens, Greece. Data were collected by
the completion of State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) which also included participants’
characteristics. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20, while the statistical significance
level was P < 0.05.
Results:Of the 222 relatives, 72 were men and 150 women. The average state and trait anxiety
score was 45.6 and 42, respectively, within the possible range of scores (20-80) thus indicating
moderate levels of anxiety. Moreover, state and trait anxiety was statistically significantly
associated with gender, degree of information of patient’s health, whether they had readjusted
family responsibilities, whether they had financial worries, whether they experienced
uncertainty about future and finally whether they were anxious about their ability to respond
to patients care.
Conclusion:Factors associated with relatives’ anxiety were gender, information regarding
patient’s health, family responsibilities, financial worries, uncertainty and anxiety to respond to
patients’ care. These factors need to be evaluated when planning psychological intervention to
alleviate this emotional burden.