Medical-Surgical Differences in Hospital Stress Factors

Psychosocial stress due to the experience of hospitalization was ascertained for 535 medical and surgical patients in a community hospital, using a Hospital Stress Rating Scale, Medical-surgical differences along nine dimensions of stress as measured by this scale were examined, using analysis of covariance to control for the effects of patient characteristics known to be associated with scores on the Hospital Stress Rating Scale. The controlled variables were age, education, number of previous hospitalizations, number of years since last hospitalization, and seriousness of illness (Seriousness of Illness Rating Scale). The analysis of covariance results indicated higher perceived stress for surgical patients on the dimensions of unfamiliarity of surroundings, loss of independence, and threat of severe illness. Medical patients scored higher on the dimensions of stress due to financial problems and lack of information. The authors discuss how these findings might be incorporated in experimental studies designed to reduce stress among hospital patients.