The family meeting in critical care settings

A routine, carefully planned meeting with families of patients in a trauma unit or critical care setting can improve coping and enhance patient care. Even though staffs in intensive care units realize that families may profoundly influence a patient's psychologic state, or may themselves be severely stressed, few units systematically address the needs of families in crisis. Common needs of families of acutely injured patients are the need to be with the patient, to learn about his condition, to feel useful, to express feeling about the situation, and to obtain emotional support. Besides addressing these needs, a family meeting can reduce family turmoil, help dispel family-staff conflict, and provide a format for educating staff about psychologic responses to life-threatening illness. The experience with eight patients in an ICU is described, and guidelines given for family meetings. Factors assuring a successful family meeting include careful attention to leadership, timing, communication, and clear priorities.