Relieving anxiety among patients with tracheostomy in intensive care

Abstract

Tracheostomy requires not only competent nursing clinical skills but also emotional support for tracheostomy patients. This study aimed to primarily find out the strategies to relieve anxiety for tracheostomy patients in intensive care and overcome the barriers in the process of alleviating anxiety. A literature review was conducted to find the answers to two questions: (1)What strategies are there to relieve anxiety among tracheostomy patients in ICU? (2)What kinds of barriers are there and how to prevent them when caring for tracheotomy patients with anxiety? Peplau’s interpersonal relations theory, Peplau’s classification of levels of anxiety and their corresponding nursing interventions were used as the theoretical framework. 11 articles related to the questions of this study were selected through inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data were analyzed through gathering, reading, describing, identifying, comparing, rechecking and scrutinizing. The findings of this study indicated that anxiety resulted from mechanical ventilation, communicative impairment, critical disease and changes in the health care environment. Communication, education, and collaboration play important roles in alleviating anxiety among patients with tracheostomy. Besides, inevitable barriers such as mechanical ventilation, sedative medication and changes in the health care environment can be prevented through such procedures as technical devices, clinician support, and discharging plan. In conclusion, enhancing awareness of holistic care for tracheostomy patients should be taken into account for tracheostomy patients.