The role of religiosity as a coping resource for relatives of critically ill patients in Greece
Sotirios Plakas
Nursing B' Department, Technological Educational Institution of Athens, Athens, Greece
Markella Boudioni
Institute of Leadership and Service Improvement, Faculty of Health and Social Care, London South Bank University, London, United Kingdom
Georgia Fouka
Nursing B' Department, Technological Educational Institution of Athens, Athens, Greece
Ann Taket
School of Health and Social Development, Faculty of Health, Centre for Health through Action on Social Exclusion, Deakin University, Burwood VIC
PP: 095 - 105
Abstract
Critical care hospitalisation is emotionally overwhelming for the relatives of patients. Research has shown that religiosity is an effective coping resource for people with health related problems and has been correlated with better health outcomes. However the processes by which religiosity is utilized and its effects on relatives of critically ill patients have not been adequately explored.
This article presents relatives' experiences and processes of religiosity; it is part of a wider grounded theory study on the experiences of critically ill patients' relatives in Greece. Twenty-five relatives of patients in the intensive care units of three public general district hospitals in Athens, Greece, participated in 19 interviews.
Religiosity was found to be the main source of hope, strength and courage for relatives and was expressed with church/monastery attendance, belief in God, praying, and performing religious rituals. Health care professionals should pay attention and understand these aspects of coping.
Keywords
experiences; distress; families; coping; religiosity; intensive care unit
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