Perceived needs of the family members in the critical care waiting room

Abstract

Family needs during the critical care experience of an adult member was the focus of this descriptive exploratory study conducted with 94 family members. The study describes the perceived needs of family members during the first 18 to 24 hours after admission of a patient to the critical care unit. The article further identifies the order in which the family perceived those needs to be met 36 to 48 hours after admission of that patient. Family members of adult patients completed a three-part instrument, which consisted of the Demographics Data Questionnaire, the Critical Care Family Needs Inventory (CCFNI), and the Needs Met Inventory (NMI). Items with which the family strongly agreed are discussed. The correlation between the CCFNI and the NMI is explicated. Also, the unusual finding of an inverse relationship between education and comfort/support statements is presented.

Communication Needs of Family Members with a Relative in Intensive Care Unit

“…Consistently nurses were identified as the keμ health personnel who met familμ needs of " have specific person to call at the hospital when unable to visit; have questions answered honestly; to know the types of staff members taking care of the patient; to feel accepted to the hospital staff and to have explanation given that are understandable". This findin%s was consistent with earlier studies (Chui & Chan, 2007;Molter, 1979;Warren, 1993). As nurses can only divulge very basic information, they usually do so without the medical jargons and this has great implications to nursing, as majority family members feel comfortable communicating to nurses.…”

“…The inclusion criteria included age of 18 years and above; marriage and "blood" related to the patient either spouse, sibling or parent; has visited the patient within 36-48 hours of admission; able to read and write and available for All the family members who participated were asked to answer a set of needs assessment questionnaires adopted from (Molter & Leske, 1983;Warren, 1993) with permission for use. The questionnaires were prepared bilingual in the English and Malay language version.…”

Waiting: The experience of persons in a critical care waiting room

“…The core concept contentment with uplifting engagements is similar to ideas found in the extant literature that emphasize the importance of equitable care, dignity, respect (Waters, 1999), assurance, support, and comfort for family members in a critical care waiting room (Warren, 1993(Warren, , 1994. Similar to many of the participants in this current study, the participants in Ruppert's (1992) study spoke about seeking information, gathering support, and sharing experiences with others.…”

“…Others talk about``feeling guilty'' when they cannot constantly be available for a family member who is waiting (Bright et al). Although no research has focused on the experience of waiting for persons with a friend or family member in a critical care unit, researchers have investigated the perceived needs of family members in a critical care waiting room (Warren, 1993); the meaning of caring behaviors in the critical care waiting room (Warren, 1994); and the experience of critical injury from spouses' perspectives (Leske, 1992;Ruppert). These researchers found that families in critical care waiting rooms describe feeling numb, hoping for improvement, being afraid, having no control, walking around like a robot, and feeling powerless (Leske).…”

“…These researchers found that families in critical care waiting rooms describe feeling numb, hoping for improvement, being afraid, having no control, walking around like a robot, and feeling powerless (Leske). They also found that people in critical care waiting rooms expect information (Warren, 1994), assurance, support, and comfort (Warren, 1993) from professionals who provide equitable, digni®ed, and respectful care (Waters, 1999). Enhancing understanding about what it is like to wait in a critical care waiting room may help hospital staff provide services that individuals say are helpful when they have to wait.…”