Families' control preference for participation in patient care in adult intensive care

Understand families' preferences and observed participation in patient care in an adult ICU.

The mixed-methods design used survey and naturalistic observation to collect data from a convenience sample of 30 family members of critically ill patients.

Two public hospital intensive care units in Australia.

1) Families' preferences for participation in decision-making and physical patient care activities in the adult intensive care unit, measured using a modified Control Preference Scale; 2) the type and frequency of family participation in patient care activities in the intensive care unit.

Almost half (47%) reported a preference to share in decision-making about care for their relative with healthcare professionals; 17% reported a preference for active participation in decision-making. Alternatively, most families preferred a passive (60%) role in the physical care of their relative ; 33% preferred shared participation with staff and very few (3%) preferred active participation with little involvement of staff. Of the 193 activities observed, family participation in physical care was the least frequent (24%).

Differences emerged in family preferences for participation in physical care compared to their involvement in decision-making about care for their relative. The findings indicate a need for tailored interventions to support family participation aligned with their preferences.