<p>The needs of family members of patients admitted to the intensive care unit</p>

Abstract

Purpose The unanticipated admission of a patient to the intensive care unit (ICU) can be particularly frightening and stressful for their family members. The objective of this study was to identify the most important needs of family members of patients admitted in the ICU and determine their relationship with their sociodemographic characteristics. Methods This was a cross-sectional study conducted from April to August 2017 among adult family members of patients admitted to the ICU of four public hospitals in the northern region of Saudi Arabia. The “Critical Care Family Needs Inventory” questionnaire was administered to all consenting relatives of ICU patients in order to determine the family needs. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Also, students’ t -test and ANOVA were carried out. Results The most important need identified by the family members was the need for assurance (3.62±0.44), followed by information (3.47±0.59), proximity (3.34±0.44), comfort (3.01±0.72), and support (2.91±0.68). A higher level of education was significantly associated with a higher level of need for assurance ( P <0.001), information ( P <0.001), and proximity ( P <0.001). Also, participants who had an unconscious/semiconscious relative in the ICU assigned a higher level of importance to information need ( P <0.001) compared with those with a conscious relative. Conclusion This study has shown that family members of patients admitted to ICU have elevated levels of needs in the assurance, proximity, and information dimensions that require to be addressed. This should guide the development of connection, effective communication, and beneficial cooperation toward offering the best possible care and support to ICU patients and their relatives.

ICU Nurses’ Perception of Visits to Patients

“…The main finding of this study is that only 32% (11) of respondents are familiar with the open ICU concept. Da Silva Ramos states that there are significant differences in visiting policies, but that the largest Of the 14 respondents, 9 respondents (64%) felt that an open ICU concept would provide better quality patient care and 5 respondents (36%) felt that it would not provide better quality care.…”

“…Recognizing the dimensions of different needs of family members is crucial to developing cohesion, effective communication and useful collaboration, aimed at providing the best possible care and support for the patient and their family (11).…”

“…ber's illness can affect how other family members cope with their condition, and thus may interfere with the support that the patient requires (11). The nurse's relationship with family members is very important, especially if the relationship between a patient and their family is disrupted because of the patient's physical condition, such as the patient's inability to speak due to stroke or sedation due to mechanical ventilation.…”

“…In such cases, physicians and nurses must rely on family members to consent to specific treatment procedures (10). In order to reduce the level of anxiety and psychological crisis in the patients' families, their immediate needs need to be identified and met (11).…”

Patient-and Family-Centered Care and Patient Safety: reflections upon emerging proximity

“…Studies show that one of the main needs of families experiencing illness and hospitalization is to receive information about the care delivered and health status of the patient (6)(7)(8) , and that, more and more families have been seeking information about the patient's health conditions online (9) . Therefore, it is important to reflect upon how this virtual information, often not evidence-based, can compromise aspects related to the safety of care, and how the lack of information sharing by health professionals with patients and families can lead them to access unsafe and low quality sources of information.…”