Multicomponent Communication Intervention to Support Family Members of the Critically Ill: A Controlled Pre-Post...

Area of Science:

• Medical Communication
• Critical Care Medicine
• Psychological Support

Background:

• Family members of ICU patients often experience poor understanding of patient information.
• Anxiety and depression are common among families following ICU discharge.
• Effective communication strategies are crucial for supporting ICU patients' families.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a communication intervention's impact on ICU family members' information comprehension.
• To assess the intervention's effect on anxiety and depression symptoms at 90 days post-ICU discharge.
• To identify risk factors for anxiety and depression in this population.

Main Methods:

• Controlled pre-post study design involving 140 family members.
• Intervention included a communication manual, skills training for staff, and an information brochure.
• Data collected via interviews using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and comprehension questionnaires.

Main Results:

• The intervention group showed significantly improved information comprehension compared to the control group (44.3% vs. 65.7% unable to state diagnosis, therapy, or prognosis; p=0.011).
• No statistically significant difference in anxiety or depression symptoms was observed between groups at 90 days (p > 0.268).
• Baseline anxiety/depression, age, and comprehension of the reason for admission predicted 90-day scores; higher education correlated with increased anxiety.

Conclusions:

• The communication intervention effectively enhanced family members' understanding of patient information.
• The intervention did not lead to a reduction in anxiety or depression symptoms at 90 days post-ICU discharge.
• Further research is needed to address psychological distress in families of ICU patients.