title: Junior versus senior physicians for informing families of intensive care unit patients.
abstract: To compare the effectiveness of information delivered to family members of critically ill patients by junior and senior physicians, we performed a prospective randomized multicenter trial in 11 French intensive care units. Patients (n = 220) were allocated at random to having their family members receive information by only junior or only senior physicians throughout the intensive care unit stay; there were 92 and 93 evaluable cases in the junior and senior groups, respectively, with no significant differences in baseline characteristics. Between Days 3 and 5, one family representative per patient was evaluated for comprehension of the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment in the patient; satisfaction with information and care; and presence of symptoms of anxiety and depression. No significant differences were found between the two groups for any of these three criteria. Family members informed by a junior physician were more likely to feel they had not been given enough information time (additional time wanted: 3 [0-6.5] vs. 0 [0-5] minutes, p = 0.01) and to have sought additional explanations from their usual doctor (48.9 vs. 34.4%, p = 0.004). Specialty residents, if given opportunities for acquiring experience, can become proficient in communicating with families and share this task with senior physicians.
authors.affiliation: Service de Réanimation Médicale, Hôpital Saint-Louis, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Delphine
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Moreau
authors.forename: Dany
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Goldgran-Toledano
authors.forename: Corinne
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Alberti
authors.forename: Mercé
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jourdain
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Adrie
authors.forename: Djilali
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Annane
authors.forename: Maité
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Garrouste-Orgeas
authors.forename: Jean-Yves
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lefrant
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Papazian
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Quinio
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pochard
authors.forename: Elie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Azoulay
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003142:Communication; D032882:Comprehension; D003422:Critical Care; D016638:Critical Illness; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008297:Male; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D011446:Prospective Studies