Information and support needs of adult family members of patients in intensive care units: an Iranian perspective

Abstract

Nurses are required to be knowledgeable about the needs of family members of patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit. The identification of the importance and priority of family members needs enable nurses to provide appropriate information and support for family members. The aim of this study was to describe the needs of family members of patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit. A descriptive cross-sectional study using survey methods was conducted. Family members of patients hospitalised for 24-72 hours in the intensive care units of 27 public and teaching hospitals in an urban area of Iran were chosen using the random sampling method. The 45-item Persian version of the Critical Care Family Need Inventory (CCFNI) was used to collect numerical data. Four hundred and fifty family members participated. Mean score for each of the 45 items ranged from 2.45-3.72.Ten items were rated by responders as very important with 93.13 % of the sample rating 'Giving an honest answer to questions' as having the highest level of importance. 'To have the pastor visit' was reported to be the least important need. Age, family relations, marital status, and level of education related to the importance level of some of the perceived needs.It is concluded that the most important needs were comprised of five items relating to the "assurance dimension" while the least important ones were related to the "support dimension". The incorporation of the needs of family members into the nursing education programme is suggested. The findings will help with the preparation of nurses as future healthcare policy makers to plan for meeting these needs and also reduce the psychological burden on family members of patients hospitalised in the intensive care unit.

Association Between Anxiety and Depression and Needs of Patient Families in Cardiovascular Surgery Intensive Care Unit

“…Literatürde, yoğun bakım biriminde yatarak tedavi görmekte olan hastaların yakınlarında depresyon ve anksiyete belirtilerinin yaygın olarak gözlendiğini bildiren çalışmalar mevcuttur (20). Yoğun bakım hastalarının yakınlarının gereksinimlerinin araştırıldığı bir çalışmada, kadınların diğer aile üyelerine olan sorumluluklarından dolayı, stres seviyelerinin daha yüksek olduğu ve duygusal olmaya daha fazla meyilli oldukları bildirilmiştir (23). Bu bulgu ile uyumlu olarak emosyonel belirtiler kadın cinsiyet ile ilişkili bulmuştur (12).…”

“…Bununla birlikte, hasta yakınlarının gereksinimleri açısından kadınlar ile erkekler arasında anlamlı farklılık saptanamamıştır. Hasta ailelerinin cinsiyet değişkeni ile gereksinimlerle ilgili aldıkları puanların ortalamaları arasındaki farkı istatistiksel olarak önemli bulmadığını bildiren çalışmalar mevcuttur (15,23).…”

“…En Önemli Gereksinimler; Bu çalışmada en önemli olarak bulunan on gereksinimden yedisinin güvenlik/yakınlık alt ölçeğine ait olduğu belirlenmiştir. Bu sonuç, literatürde yer alan bu konu ile ilişkili yapılmış çalışmalardan güvenlik gereksinimini ilk sırada bulan araştırma bulgularını desteklemektedir (16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26). Hatta Amerika'da yapılan bir çalışmada bu çalışmayla benzer şekilde en önemli on maddeden yedisinin güvenlik alt ölçeğine ait olduğu belirtmektedir (24).…”

Emotional support to the family of the critically ill patient: nursing interventions

“…The use of resources is essential to include family members in the process of care provision, guiding them and referencing them where appropriate to other health care professionals. It is equally important to provide real, complete, and honest information, by contacting the family whenever the patient's condition changes (Kinrade, Jackson, & Tomnay, 2009;Hashim & Hussin, 2012;Gaeeni et al, 2015;Bandari et al, 2015;Rodríguez et al, 2016).…”

“…The manifestation of empathy, respect, and sensitivity, as well as emotional and spiritual support to the family, are presented as major interventions, which meet the needs of family members (Gaeeni et al, 2015;Pelazza et al, 2015). Hashim and Hussin (2012), Gaeeni et al (2015), and Bandari et al (2015) acknowledge the emotional support through the promotion of expression of feelings and the realistic feeding of hope. Hashim and Hussin (2012) and Kinrade et al (2009) emphasize the closeness, security, and manifestation of concern for the critically ill patient as needs perceived by the family.…”