Patients' and family members' perceptions of transfer from intensive care.
OBJECTIVE
To describe patients' and family members' perceptions of transfer from an intensive care unit (ICU).


METHODS
Qualitative component of a descriptive, cross-sectional survey.


METHODS
Two university-affiliated tertiary care centres in western Canada.


METHODS
Fifty-three patients and 35 family members who had been transferred from a medical ICU within the previous 48 hours.


METHODS
Content analysis of responses to 3 open-ended questions relating to transfer from the ICU.


RESULTS
Patients and family members had 3 major responses of transfer from the ICU: positive, neutral or ambivalent, and negative. Although some patients and family members perceived the transfer from the ICU as a sign of progress, many individuals expressed concern about the sudden and dramatic change in the level of care after transfer.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients and family members perceived the transfer from the ICU as a significant and sometimes negative event.
D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002170:Canada; D003422:Critical Care / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010360:Patient Transfer; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013315:Stress, Psychological