Family Needs of Critically Ill Patients Admitted to the Intensive Care Unit, Comparison of Nurses and Family Perception

In critical care unit, nurses provide care for critically ill patient and provide support for patient's families. Also, critical illness has an effects on patient' families and may threatened their stability. The aim of the study was to identify the perception of critically ill patient's family and nurses’ towards family needs, and the extent to which those needs are viewed as met. A descriptive research design was used in this study. The study was conducted at medical, anesthesia and neurology Intensive Care Units (ICU) at Tanta University and Emergency Hospitals, Tanta, Egypt. All critical care nurses working in the three units were included in the study. Also, Convenience sample of 90 family members of critically ill patients were included. Two tools were utilized to collect data: Tool (I): Socio-demographic characteristics of family members and nurses. Tool II: The combined 30-item version of the Critical Care Family Needs Inventory/Needs Met Inventory (CCFNI/NMI). The results of this study reported that the mean score of important information needs perceived by family members was increased (24.04±3.09), while it was (22.12±3.05) among the studied nurses. Also, the mean score of MET information needs perceived by family members was (18.02±2.36) while it was (19.54±2.32) among studied nurses. The mean score (24.17±2.26) of important item of proximity domain was increased among studied family members than among nurses (22.64±2.43). It was concluded that most of the important needs perceived by family members in the three ICUs are not always met except some needs were met in little percentage. Nurses and patients' families had ranked higher mean score regarding the information, proximity and assurance needs than support and comfort needs. It was recommended: Nurses need to continuously identify strategies to best meet the needs of family members in times of crisis.