Patient, family-centred care interventions within the adult ICU setting: An integrative review

Patient, Family-Centred Care (PFCC) is internationally advocated as a way to improve patient care. The aim of this integrative review was to extend the knowledge and understanding by synthesising empirical evidence of PFCC interventions within the adult intensive care unit (ICU) setting.

An integrative review methodological framework was employed, permitting the inclusion of all research designs. A comprehensive and systematic search, selection, quality appraisal, and data extraction of research were conducted to synthesise knowledge and identify research gaps.

A systematic search of the following databases was conducted: MEDLINE; CINHAL; PsycINFO; Cochrane Library; Web of Science-Current Contents Connect; Web of Science-Core Collection; The Joanna Briggs Institute EBP Database; ProQuest Sociological Abstracts; and ProQuest Dissertation and Theses Global. Primary research in adult ICUs was included.

Data extracted from the studies included authors, year, country of origin, design, setting, sample, intervention, data collection strategies, main findings and limitations. Study quality was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool.

Forty-two articles met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review. Only a third of the papers stated the theory underpinning their study. Three themes emerged with interventions predominantly around Interacting with the target sample; Culture and Connection and Service Delivery interventions were also identified. Few studies integrated more than one dimension of PFCC.

Research into PFCC interventions is diverse; however, few researchers present a multi-dimensional approach incorporating a culture shift to enact PFCC throughout the ICU trajectory. There is an opportunity for future research to describe, develop, and test instruments that measure PFCC based on its multiple dimensions and not on one component in isolation. Importantly, for PFCC to successfully individualise quality patient care, a commitment and enactment of partnerships between health care professionals, patients, and family members is imperative.