Uncertainty in Illness of Sufferers with Untreated Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysm and Its Related Factors

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to clarify “uncertainty in illness” (Mishel, 1988) and its factors related to untreated unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIA), so the Universal Uncertainty in Illness Scale (UUIS) was used in a self-reported questionnaire that was distributed to 165 patients having untreated UIA. As a result, the average total-UUIS score was 72.06±22.86. A univariate analysis was conducted with UUIS as the dependent variable and the four independent variables of “basic attributes”, “antecedent variables of uncertainty”, “coping with uncertainty”, and “SOC3-UTHS”, which represents the sense of coherence. A categorical regression analysis was conducted using seven variables. It found statistically significant correlations in the univariate analysis, for example SOC3-UTHS and “emotional support from others with the same disease”. The conclusion is that these factors explain 43% of uncertainty in illness in the subjects and suggest the necessity of nursing support for UIA patients for finding awareness of UIA and to creating environments where they can share their experiences and feelings with people suffering from the same disease.