title: The needs of significant others within intensive care--the perspectives of Swedish nurses and physicians.
abstract: The aim of this study was to describe and compare the views of registered nurses (RNs, n=292), enrolled nurses (ENs, n=232) and physicians (PHs, n=79) working in intensive care units (ICUs) on the needs of the patients' significant others. The questionnaire used was the Critical Care Family Needs Inventory (CCFNI). Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Four factors were revealed: (I) the need to meet professionals who are sensitive when informing and listening to significant others, (II) the need to take care of themselves, (III) the need to know what is going on, and (IV) the need for continuity as well as information about the hospital staffing structure. RNs and ENs scored higher than the PHs on factors I-III. On the fourth factor, ENs and PHs scored higher than the RNs. The professionals from surgical ICUs scored higher on the third factor than the professionals from medical ICUs. In conclusion, to increase the understanding of the complexity of the intensive care milieu there is a need for further research to illuminate the view of both the healthcare professionals' and the critically ill patients' significant others on their interactions with one another, for the purpose of increasing collaboration.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Nursing Science, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1120, Blindern, N-0317 Oslo, Norway. christina.takman@sykepleievit.uio.no
authors.forename: Christina A S
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Takman
authors.forename: Elisabeth I
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Severinsson
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003142:Communication; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006786:Hospitals, Urban; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology*; D009743:Nursing, Practical; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden; D014789:Visitors to Patients / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology