Table 6

Perceived social support

F-Sozu dimension
All patients (n = 62)
'High-scoring patients' (n = 18)
'Low-scoring patients' (n = 44)
t test









t
d.f.
p

Total social support
4.3 ± 0.8
3.9 ± 1.0
4.4 ± 0.5
2.90
22.6
≤ 0.01
Emotional support
4.4 ± 0.8
4.2 ± 0.9
4.4 ± 0.7
2.24
20.9
≤ 0.05
Practical support
4.0 ± 0.8
3.5 ± 0.9
4.3 ± 0.6
1.88
60
≤ 0.064a
Social integrity
4.2 ± 0.7
3.9 ± 0.8
4.4 ± 0.5
3.53
23.4
≤ 0.005

The Questionnaire for Social Support (F-Sozu) was used to compare 'high-scoring patients' with a Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome 10-Questions Inventory (PTSS-10) score greater than or equal to the cutoff score of 35, indicating an increased risk for development of post-traumatic stress disorder, with 'low-scoring patients' with a PTSS-10 below the cutoff score. Scores are shown as means ± SD. For each of the 22 items a rating between 1 (low support) and 5 (high support) was possible. A post-hoc t test was applied for independent samples. aTrend.

Deja et al. Critical Care 2006 10:R147   doi:10.1186/cc5070