Abstract
Background: In South Korea, family caregiving is culturally significant, with family members often assuming substantial caregiving responsibilities, particularly during patients' transitions from intensive care units (ICU) to general wards. This transition period presents high demands for family caregivers, who must quickly adapt to complex caregiving roles while managing their own anxiety and uncertainty. This study aims to identify factors influencing family caregivers' readiness for discharge to enhance support structures in transitional care.
Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 171 family caregivers at two general hospitals in Seoul. Structural equation modeling was applied to examine the effects of caregiver anxiety, perceived disease uncertainty, patient dependency, relationship quality, discharge education quality, and caregiving self-efficacy on discharge readiness. Measures included standardized scales such as the Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale and the Quality of Discharge Teaching Scale, with model fit and variable interactions assessed via SPSS WIN 23.0 and AMOS 4.0.
Results: The model fit indices met acceptable thresholds (GFI = .97, AGFI = .88, NFI = .95, CFI = .97, Normed χ2 = 2.19, SRMR = .03). Key predictors of discharge readiness included perceived disease uncertainty, discharge education quality, and caregiving self-efficacy, which explained 66.7% of the variance. Caregiver anxiety and relationship quality indirectly influenced discharge readiness through their effects on discharge teaching and self-efficacy. Patient dependency and caregiver anxiety also significantly impacted caregiving self-efficacy, which further contributed to discharge preparedness.
Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of reducing disease-related uncertainty, enhancing discharge teaching, and fostering caregiver self-efficacy to improve discharge readiness among ICU patient family caregivers. Findings suggest that targeted interventions addressing caregiver anxiety and building supportive relationships with healthcare providers can improve discharge outcomes and caregiver preparedness. Future research should explore the longitudinal impacts of such interventions on caregiver and patient well-being post-discharge.
Notes
References:
1. Weiss, M. E., Piacentine, L. B., Lokken, L., Ancona, J., Archer, J., Gresser, S., Holmes, S. B., Toman, S., Toy, A., & Vega-Stromberg, T. (2007). Perceived readiness for hospital discharge in adult medical-surgical patients. Clinical Nurse Specialist, 21(1), 31-42. https://doi.org/10.1097/00002800-200701000-00008
2. Meleis, A. I., Sawyer, L. M., Im, E. O., Hilfinger Messias, D. K., & Schumacher, K. (2000). Experiencing transitions: An emerging middle-range theory. Advances in Nursing Science, 23(1), 12-28. https://doi.org/10.1097/00012272-200009000-00006
3. van Mol, M. M., Boeter, T. G., Verharen, L., Kompanje, E. J., Bakker, J., & Nijkamp, M. D. (2017). Patient- and family-centred care in the intensive care unit: A challenge in the daily practice of healthcare professionals. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 26(19-20), 3212-3223. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.13669
4. Chaboyer, W., Kendall, E., Kendall, M., & Foster, M. (2005). Transfer out of intensive care: A qualitative exploration of patient and family perceptions. Australian Critical Care, 18(4), 138-145. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1036-7314(05)80026-8
5. Bench, S., Day, T., & Griffiths, P. (2013). Effectiveness of critical care discharge information in supporting early recovery from critical illness. Critical Care Nurse, 33(3), 41-52. https://doi.org/10.4037/ccn2013134
Sigma Membership
Non-member
Type
Poster
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Cross-Sectional
Research Approach
Other
Keywords:
Acute Care, Caregivers, ICU Patients, Caregiver Preparedness, South Korea
Recommended Citation
Kwon, Heui-Kyeong; Seo, Kyoungsan; and Lee, Mimi, "Structural Model of ICU Family Caregiver Discharge Readiness in Transition" (2025). International Nursing Research Congress (INRC). 159.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2025/posters_2025/159
Conference Name
36th International Nursing Research Congress
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Seattle, Washington, USA
Conference Year
2025
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Structural Model of ICU Family Caregiver Discharge Readiness in Transition
Seattle, Washington, USA
Background: In South Korea, family caregiving is culturally significant, with family members often assuming substantial caregiving responsibilities, particularly during patients' transitions from intensive care units (ICU) to general wards. This transition period presents high demands for family caregivers, who must quickly adapt to complex caregiving roles while managing their own anxiety and uncertainty. This study aims to identify factors influencing family caregivers' readiness for discharge to enhance support structures in transitional care.
Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 171 family caregivers at two general hospitals in Seoul. Structural equation modeling was applied to examine the effects of caregiver anxiety, perceived disease uncertainty, patient dependency, relationship quality, discharge education quality, and caregiving self-efficacy on discharge readiness. Measures included standardized scales such as the Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale and the Quality of Discharge Teaching Scale, with model fit and variable interactions assessed via SPSS WIN 23.0 and AMOS 4.0.
Results: The model fit indices met acceptable thresholds (GFI = .97, AGFI = .88, NFI = .95, CFI = .97, Normed χ2 = 2.19, SRMR = .03). Key predictors of discharge readiness included perceived disease uncertainty, discharge education quality, and caregiving self-efficacy, which explained 66.7% of the variance. Caregiver anxiety and relationship quality indirectly influenced discharge readiness through their effects on discharge teaching and self-efficacy. Patient dependency and caregiver anxiety also significantly impacted caregiving self-efficacy, which further contributed to discharge preparedness.
Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of reducing disease-related uncertainty, enhancing discharge teaching, and fostering caregiver self-efficacy to improve discharge readiness among ICU patient family caregivers. Findings suggest that targeted interventions addressing caregiver anxiety and building supportive relationships with healthcare providers can improve discharge outcomes and caregiver preparedness. Future research should explore the longitudinal impacts of such interventions on caregiver and patient well-being post-discharge.
Description
This study explores factors affecting discharge readiness among South Korean family caregivers of ICU patients transitioning to general wards. Structural equation modeling revealed that perceived disease uncertainty, discharge education quality, and caregiving self-efficacy significantly influence discharge preparedness. Findings underscore the need for targeted support and education to reduce caregiver burden and enhance patient outcomes during critical care transitions.