Family Needs of Patients Admitted to the Intensive Care Units

Background and aims: Organizational support of family members of the patients admitted to intensivecare units (ICUs) potentially reduces mental stresses and enables them to better comply with andsupport the patients. The current study aimed at evaluating the needs of families of the patientsadmitted to ICUs in teaching hospitals of Iran.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in ۲۰۱۵ using convenience sampling method. TheCritical Care Family Needs Inventory (CCFNI) in ۵ factors was used as a main data collection tool. Thestudy population included ۲۳۵ family members of the patients.Results: Total score of CCFNI was ۱۳۲.۳۲±۱۸.۴۶. Needs of family members of ICU patients decreased۰.۴۲۸ times following the increase of length of stay in ICU (P < ۰.۰۰۱). Moreover, the need forsupportive cares was significantly ۹.۲۷۳ times lower among illiterate families, compared with theones with higher education level (P < ۰.۰۱۸).Conclusion: Considering that the highest need was in the area of support and the predictors of thefamily needs of the patients were the duration of hospitalization and the educational status of theirfamilies, the main focus of nurses should be on the support of family members of the patients admittedto the ICU and supporting and paying attention to their needs, who experience stressful conditions, tosatisfy them and even to encourage them to give better care to the patient and help health care staff.

کلیدواژه ها:

Intensive care unit ، Family support ، Family needs