Intensive care professionals' perceptions of the quality of counselling provided in the ICU: A cross‐sectional study

Abstract

Background: Intensive care professionals (ICPs) have a key role in counselling adult intensive care unit (ICU) patients and their family members. The counselling provided to ICU patients and their family members can be described based on the content, implementation, benefits, and resources. Aims:The study had two specific aims: first, to assess ICPs' perceptions of the quality of counselling provided to ICU patients and their family members; and second, to explore which factors ICPs feel is associated with the quality of counselling. Design and Methods:A cross-sectional survey of ICPs working in adult ICUs in Finnish university hospitals. Data were collected using the Counselling Quality Instrument. The data were analysed by descriptive statistics and chi-square and t-test statistical methods.Results: A total of 182 ICPs returned the questionnaire, reflecting a response rate of 18.6%. Most of the respondents were nurses (97%) and the mean age was 42 years.The ICPs reported having adequate time for patient-(77%) and family-centered (73%) counselling, but only 47% felt that their units had the appropriate facilities.There were statistically significant differences between patient-and family-centered counselling and the ICP's self-assessed competence (p < .001), goal-oriented counselling (p < .001), and atmosphere during counselling (p < .001). ICPs' attitudes towards counselling impacted how these professionals assessed patients' and family members' confidence, along with patient recovery (p < .001).Conclusions: This study confirms that the provision of high-quality counselling has beneficial effects; however, it also indicates that there is a need for training that considers each ICP's professional experience and patient-and family-centered factors, which may differ from one another.Relevance to Clinical Practice: According to ICPs, the quality of counselling can be enhanced by empowering ICPs to improve counselling and providing appropriate ICU facilities for counselling, such as a private room for family members.

Celebrating our success over the holiday period: 40 papers to read over the holiday

“…16 From Turkey, one study 17 identified the skin problems related to using personal protective equipment by ICU nurses, and another study 18 examined the relationship between alarm fatigue and the tendency to make medical errors among ICU nurses. A Finnish study 19 assessed intensive care professionals' perceptions of, and factors associated with, the quality of counselling provided to ICU patients and their family members. An Iranian study 20 In this issue, we also include three systematic reviews: one aimed at identifying a population of critically ill children who have the highest risk of developing venous thromboembolism, 32 one examined the effectiveness of music listening on sleep quality, psychological outcomes, and physiological outcomes of critically ill patients, 33 and one reviewed the available evidence of initial paediatric trauma care throughout the health care process.…”

“…From Turkey, one study 17 identified the skin problems related to using personal protective equipment by ICU nurses, and another study 18 examined the relationship between alarm fatigue and the tendency to make medical errors among ICU nurses. A Finnish study 19 assessed intensive care professionals' perceptions of, and factors associated with, the quality of counselling provided to ICU patients and their family members. An Iranian study 20 compared muscle strength and ICU‐acquired weakness in COVID‐19 and non‐COVID‐19 patients admitted to the ICU.…”