Abstract:
This was a correlational predictive study aimed to examine uncertainty in illness and the factors influencing caregivers' uncertainty of children undergoing cardiac surgery by using Mishel's (1988) uncertainty in illness concept as the theoretical framework. The sample group comprised 75 caregivers of children undergoing the first-time cardiac surgery in a university hospital. The sample group was selected by convenience sampling. The data were collected by demographic data record forms and questionnaires. The data were analysed by descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis. The results indicated that the sample group had a moderate level of the average score of uncertainty in illness. (M = 95.14, SD = 7.63). Perception of the severity of illness, credible authority in healthcare providers, and information and emotional support could explain 33.9 % of the variance in the caregivers' uncertainty of children undergoing cardiac surgery. (R2 = .339, F = 13.630, p < .001). The significant predictors were perception of the severity of illness (β = .413, p < .001), credible authority in healthcare providers (β = -.287, p = .004), and information and emotional support (β = -.223, p = .026). The finding of this research suggested that healthcare providers should assess perception of the severity of illness and develop information and emotional support interventions for reducing the levels of caregivers' uncertainty of children undergoing cardiac surgery.