The Impact of Psychological Nursing Based on Psychological Capital Theory on ICU Patients and Their Families

Abstract

Objective This study aimed to explore the effect of structured psychological nursing intervention based on psychological capital theory on the psychological state of patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and the mental health of their families. Methods A randomized controlled trial design was adopted. A total of 120 conscious patients with an expected length of stay in the ICU of ≥7 days and 240 primary caregiving family members admitted to the ICU of a Grade A tertiary hospital from January to December 2023 were selected as the research subjects. They were randomly divided into an intervention group and a control group, with 60 patients and 120 family members in each group. The control group received conventional psychological nursing, while the intervention group implemented a structured psychological nursing intervention program based on psychological capital theory in addition to conventional nursing. Evidence-based nursing techniques such as goal-setting technology, cognitive restructuring method, positive suggestion therapy, and stress coping training were adopted. Each intervention lasted for 30-45 minutes, was conducted once every other day, and a total of 6 interventions were carried out. The intervention period was from 48 hours after admission to the ICU until before transfer out of the ICU. Results After the intervention, the score of the Psychological Capital Questionnaire of patients in the intervention group was significantly higher than that in the control group (42.85±6.12 vs 36.24±5.78, P<0.001), and the scores of the Hamilton Anxiety Scale and Hamilton Depression Scale were significantly lower (Anxiety: 8.45±3.21 vs 12.67±4.15, P<0.001; Depression: 7.92±2.89 vs 11.43±3.67, P<0.001). The psychological capital score of family members in the intervention group was significantly higher than that in the control group (45.76±7.23 vs 38.92±6.45, P<0.001), and the score of the Zarit Caregiver Burden Interview was significantly lower (28.34±5.67 vs 35.28±6.92, P<0.001). Conclusion The structured psychological nursing intervention based on psychological capital theory can effectively improve the mental health status of ICU patients and their families, and enhance their psychological adaptability and coping efficacy.