The anxiety states of fathers of hospitalized children and its causes

Abstract

Background: A sick child will affect family directly. The life of the family will extremely change compared to their life before the illness. Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the anxiety state of fathers with hospitalized children and its causes. Method: The study used a descriptive design. It was a cross-sectional study carried out between February and June 2015. The universe of the study consisted of fathers of hospitalized children in a Children’s Hospital in Ankara, the capital city of Turkey. The data collection procedure used a socio-demographic characteristics and causes of anxiety questionnaire and State Trait Anxiety Inventory-S. Results: The states causing anxiety in fathers were defined as child’s disease, hospitalization, taking medicine, being unable to accompany the child, procedures, diet, comfort and safety of the child and the father. The mean state anxiety level of the fathers was found to be 48.94 ± 11.68. Conclusion: Fathers’ anxiety can be reduced by giving them information on the child’s disease, hospital conditions and what needs to be done.