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Related Experiment Videos

Sharing intimacy in "open" intensive care units.

Valentina Di Bernardo1, Nicola Grignoli2, Chantal Marazia3

  • 1Intensive Care Unit, Ospedale Regionale di Lugano, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Lugano, Switzerland; Sasso Corbaro Medical Humanities Foundation, Bellinzona, Switzerland.

Journal of Critical Care
|July 11, 2015
PubMed
Summary

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Patients and relatives view open intensive care units (ICUs) positively, appreciating family presence. However, healthcare providers expressed skepticism regarding the benefits and stress of open ICUs.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Ethics
  • Patient-Centered Care
  • Healthcare Management

Background:

  • A new Swiss law mandates a central role for relatives in medical decisions for incapacitated patients.
  • Opening intensive care units (ICUs) to relatives is a recent development influenced by legal changes.
  • Understanding the perceptions of all stakeholders is crucial for successful implementation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess patient, relative, and healthcare provider views on the presence of relatives in ICUs.
  • To evaluate the perceived intrusiveness of relatives into the personal sphere during ICU admission.
  • To inform policy and practice regarding open ICU models.

Main Methods:

  • Longitudinal, prospective qualitative study design.
  • Concomitant submission of questionnaires to patients, relatives, and healthcare providers.
Keywords:
Critical careEthicsICU visiting policyIntensive carePsychologySurrogate decision making

Related Experiment Videos

  • Data collected over 6 months across 4 ICUs in Canton Ticino, Switzerland.

    • Main Results:

    • Analysis of 120 patient-relative pairs showed consistent positive views on the usefulness of open ICUs (P < .0001).
    • Healthcare providers' responses differed significantly (P < .0001) regarding usefulness and perceived stress.
    • Patients and relatives reported high levels of intimacy and positive benefits from family presence.

    Conclusions:

    • Patients and relatives overwhelmingly perceive the benefits of open ICUs positively.
    • Healthcare providers exhibit skepticism towards the concept and implications of open ICUs.
    • The study highlights a discrepancy in perspectives between patients/relatives and healthcare providers regarding open ICUs.