To explore the influencing factors of anxiety of family members of patients in the Emergency Department (ED), and to provide a theoretical basis for alleviating the anxiety of patients′ family members.

From October 2023 to January 2024, the international universal self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) was used to design a questionnaire in conjunction with the hospital situation, which was then filled by the patients′ family members. The questionnaire included basic information about the family, the SAS scale, and the influence of the environment on mood. In addition, basic patient information and disease information were collected. SPSS 27.0 statistical software was used to analyze all the data collected, including ED setting, gender, surgery and tumor history.

A total of 252 valid questionnaires were received. Family anxiety was high in male patients (P = 0.027), malignant tumor patients (P = 0.044) and non-surgical treatment patients (P = 0.032). The duration of hospitalization in emergency intensive care unit (EICU) patients was associated with the level of anxiety of patients′ families (P = 0.013). Multiple environmental factors influenced the level of anxiety of family members of emergency patients.

The anxiety of family members of emergency patients was affected by multiple factors such as the patients gender, condition, environment, etc. While paying attention to the physiological and psychological health of emergency patients, we should take note of the psychological changes of their family members and provide corresponding humanistic care.