Abstract:
This study investigated the state anxiety level of the parent whose child had been admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) with restricted visiting hours
and the state anxiety level of the parent whose child had been admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care unit with unrestricted visiting hours. The 15 parents in each of the two visitation groups were very similar in terms of age, gender, and marital status.
Parental state anxiety levels were measured using the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). A tool evaluating visiting hours and the STAI were given to the
parent of the child hospitalized in the Pediatric ICU between the 12th and 36th hour of hospitalization. While no significance was found at p<.05 level, implications
for further research are discussed.
