Abstract
This study aimed to clarify the structure, degree, and time course of uncertainty experienced by patients during their recuperation process after opting for endovascular coiling to treat an unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIA), in efforts to determine suitable nursing care. Twenty-one patients were assessed by Mixed Method used with interview and questionnaire. This longitudinal study revealed that UIA patients experienced uncertainty about various events during their lengthy recuperation period, and that their perception and handling of their changing uncertainty caused inner changes in them. The degree of uncertainty gradually decreased and patients acquired the ability to accept the reality of their situation as their perception of uncertainty changed from "try to remove uncertainty" to "accept that the uncertainty cannot be removed" and then to "to be able to foresee how to deal with uncertainty". It was shown that the full structure of uncertainty can be manifested by depicting the uncertainty in context, and this will help nurses to provide necessary and specific care to UIA patients over the time course of their uncertainty. Moreover, this will enable uncertainty to be specified along a time axis. The findings of this study serve as a foundation from which nurses can determine appropriate care for UIA patients according to the status and phase of uncertainty experienced.
