The Experience of Loneliness Among Patients During the Perioperative Period
NCT ID: NCT01203761
Last Updated: 2010-09-16
Study Results
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Basic Information
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UNKNOWN
600 participants
OBSERVATIONAL
2010-09-30
2011-11-30
Brief Summary
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Current psycho-physiological research has provided evidence on the alarming possibility of the aversive affects of hospitalization stress on the patients' already deteriorated physical health and marked interference with their recovery.
As an additional stressor, which may partly be related to the hospital staff, and partly to the person's illness and expected surgery is loneliness.
Loneliness is a painful experience that is, commonly, not embraced and which has consequences that are detrimental to one's emotional, physical and spiritual well being.
The present study explores the qualitative aspects of loneliness (via questionnaires) in two patient populations: (1) patients facing surgery, and (2) patients who have already undergone surgery. In addition, family members \[i.e. those waiting outside of the operating room\] will be given a questionnaire, and these three groups will be compared to the general population.
Detailed Description
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From the outset, illness itself is a major stressor on one's life. However, surgery, with its accompanying loss of control, fear of being invaded, and expectation of post operative pain adds appreciably to that stress and anxiety. Current psycho-physiological research has provided evidence on the alarming possibility of the aversive affects of hospitalization stress on the patients' already deteriorated physical health and marked interference with their recovery \[1\].
Despite the best intentions of most hospital staffs, emotional distance and depersonalization of the patients might be their natural reaction in dealing with the harsh reality of the patients' ill fate and enormous demands of their responsibilities without being burned out or losing their focus of attention on treatment tasks. As an additional stressor, which may partly be related to the hospital staff, and partly to the person's illness and expected surgery is Loneliness.
Loneliness is a painful experience that is, commonly, not embraced and which has consequences that are detrimental to one's emotional, physical and spiritual well being \[2,3\]. Lonely individuals tend to exhibit negative intrapersonal traits like pessimism \[2,4\]. Loneliness was found to be negatively correlated with happiness \[5\] and life satisfaction \[6\]. It has been linked to such maladies as depression, hostility, alcoholism, poor self-concept, and psychosomatic illnesses \[3\].
Study design The present study will explore the qualitative aspects of loneliness \[not its intensity\] in two patient populations: (1) patients facing surgery, and (2) patients who have already undergone surgery. In addition, family members \[i.e. those waiting outside of the operating room\] will be given a questionnaire, and these three groups will be compared to the general population.
The loneliness questionnaire is a 60 item yes/no questionnaire that will examine the quality of the loneliness that the participant may experience (enclosed with the proposal). Additionally, there will be demographic questions, and information will be sought about the illness of the patient, the number of hospitalization days, and previous hospitalizations or surgeries.
Conditions
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Study Design
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CASE_CONTROL
CROSS_SECTIONAL
Study Groups
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Preoperative patients
ENT surgical patients, approximately 1 day before their procedure undertaken
No interventions assigned to this group
Postoperative patients
ENT surgical patients during their postoperative hospitalization
No interventions assigned to this group
Family members
Family members of ENT surgical patients, during the perioperative period
No interventions assigned to this group
Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria
Exclusion Criteria
18 Years
90 Years
ALL
Yes
Sponsors
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Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center
OTHER_GOV
Responsible Party
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Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center
Principal Investigators
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Idit Matot, MD
Role: STUDY_CHAIR
Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center
Locations
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Tel Aviv Sourasky medical center
Tel Aviv, , Israel
Countries
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Central Contacts
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Facility Contacts
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References
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(1) Hughes B. Psychology, hospitalization and some thoughts on medical training. European Journal of Psychotherapy and Counselling 2001;4: 7-26. (2) Ernst JM CJ. Lonely Hearts: Psychological perspectives on loneliness. Applied and Preventative Psychology 1999;8: 1-22. (3) McWhirter B. Loneliness: A review of current literature with implications for counselling and research. Journal of Counselling and Development 1990;68: 417-423. (4) Davis HH, R Edson, C Ziegler. The relationship between optimism-pessimism, loneliness, and levels of self-esteem in college students. College Student Journal 1992;26: 244-247. (5) Booth R BD, Bohnsock J An examination of the relationship between happiness, loneliness, and shy men in college students. Journal of College Student Development 1992;33: 157-162. (6) Riggio RE WK, Throckmorton B. Social skills, social support, and psychosocial adjustment. Personality and Individual Differences 1993;15: 275-308.
Other Identifiers
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TASMC-10-IM-0301-CTIL
Identifier Type: -
Identifier Source: org_study_id