Previous Intensive Care Unit Experience Improves Family Satisfaction With Decision-Making: A Survey

Family members often encounter decision-making challenges when providing care. Family satisfaction is an indicator used to measure the quality of intensive care.

This study measured satisfaction with decision-making among family members of patients with critical illness in the intensive care unit (ICU).

A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted with family members of ICU patients at a medical centre in southern Taiwan. We developed a traditional Chinese version of the 24-Item Family Satisfaction in the ICU (FS-ICU 24) questionnaire and surveyed the family members of ICU patients in Taiwan. The factors influencing family satisfaction with ICU care were analysed using the independent t-test and Pearson's correlation.

In total, 100 family members participated in this study. The traditional Chinese version of the FS-ICU 24 exhibited excellent reliability and validity. Each item score was converted to a 0-100 scale, with higher scores reflecting greater family satisfaction. The participants' overall satisfaction score with ICU care (85.7 ± 15.4) and their satisfaction with decision-making (84.5 ± 13.8). Moreover, decision-making satisfaction was significantly higher among participants who previously experienced having family members admitted to the ICU than among those who had not (p = 0.017).

The findings suggest that intensivists and nurses should proactively share information with patients' family members, particularly those without previous experience in the ICU. This approach can help enhance the quality of supportive care and improve family-centred care in the ICU.

ICU healthcare teams should prioritise clear communication and active interaction with patients and their families, helping families feel more reassured about the treatments their loved ones receive.