Roy’s Adaptation Model Derived Step-Down Protocol (RAMSP) and Relocation Stress Syndrome among ICU Patients

Abstract

Relocation stress syndrome (RSS) has been common to Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients who were for transfer to a regular room. They experience anxiety, depression and loneliness at some point. This study examined the effectiveness of Roy’s Adaptation Model Step-down Protocol (RAMSP) in alleviating RSS. The protocol was composed of evidenced-based interventions that prevent the known problem. ICU patients (n=62) were tested having one hospital as the study group, where RAMSP was introduced, and the other hospital with its generic protocol as a control group. Results have shown that significant difference was noted on the pre-test and post-test upon the introduction of the said protocol with a p value of 0.001 for anxiety, 0.002 for depression, and 0.002 for loneliness. The study found out that RAMSP has been successful in decreasing the levels of anxiety depression, and loneliness as compared to a generic transfer protocol. However, anxiety was considered to give more impact to relocation stress syndrome which calls for more an immediate effort to suppress it.