Patient and family engagement in Danish intensive care units: A national survey

Patient and family engagement in the intensive care unit increases the quality of care and patient safety.

The aim of our study was to describe current practice and experiences of contemporary patient and family engagement in the intensive care unit at the individual level, the organizational level, and in the research process according to critical care nurses.

We conducted a national qualitative survey of intensive care units in Denmark from 5th May-5th June 2021. Questionnaires were piloted and sent to intensive care nurse specialists and research nurses at 41 intensive care units, allowing one respondent per unit. All respondents were provided with written information about the study by email, and by activating the survey link, they accepted participation.

Thirty-two nurses responded to the invitation, 24 completed and 8 partially completed the survey, yielding a response rate of 78%. At the individual level, 27 respondents stated that they involved patients and 25 said they involved family in daily treatment and care. At the organizational level, 28 intensive care units had an overall strategy or guideline for patient and family engagement, and 4 units had established a PFE panel. And, finally, 11 units engaged patients and families in the research process.

Our survey suggested that patient and family engagement was implemented to some degree at the individual level, organizational level, and in the research process, but only 4 units had established a PFE panel at the organizational level, which is key to engagement.

Patient engagement increases when patients are more awake, and family engagement increases when patients are unable to participate. Engagement increases when patient and family engagement panels are implemented.