Needs of American relatives of intensive care patients: perceptions of relatives, physicians and nurses

This study investigated differences between the perceptions of American relatives, physicians and nurses concerning the needs of relatives visiting intensive care patients.

This was a prospective descriptive study. Perceived needs were measured using the 45 item Critical Care Family Needs Inventory (CCFNI) with 101 relatives visiting as well as 28 physicians and 109 nurses working with the same group of patients.

Data were collected using a convenience sample of patients, their relatives visiting, as well as the physicians and nurses working with the same patients in six adult intensive care units in a large American tertiary acute care medical centre with over a 900 bed capacity.

There were significant correlations (p<0.05) between the relatives, physicians and nurses on eight of the 45 individual items on the CCFNI. Subscale (Information, Proximity, Assurance, Comfort and Support) scores for the needs perceived by relatives, physicians and nurses were calculated and there were significant differences in the three groups on Information (F=5.90, df=2, p=.0005), Support (F=4.12, df=2, p=.022) and Comfort (F=5.01, df=2, p=.010). Relatives and nurses made multiple comments on the surveys. This is important information for all health care workers to consider in setting visiting policies in adult ICUs and developing approaches such as family centred care.