Emotional strain, communication, and satisfaction of family members in the intensive care unit compared with expectations of the medical staff: experiences from a Norwegian University Hospital.
OBJECTIVE
To determine satisfaction in regard to information concerning, and support and facilities for relatives in the intensive care unit (ICU), and to compare this with the staff's expectations on these issues; to determine relatives' degree of psychological distress and use of hypnotics, anxiolytics, and antidepressants; finally, to compare the distress of relatives of survivors and relatives of non-survivors.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
University-affiliated ICU.


METHODS
Relatives of 50 patients who survived at least 6 days in the ICU and relatives of 18 non-survivors who stayed for at least 24 h anonymously completed a mailed questionnaire at home 4 weeks after treatment in the ICU. Forty-three staff members (69%) answered the questionnaire. The degree of satisfaction was measured on a five-point scale (0-4).


RESULTS
The average satisfaction scores were 3.4+/-0.6 SD for relatives of survivors and 3.4+/-0.5 for relatives of non-survivors. Staff expected a significantly lower degree of satisfaction, with a score of 2.9+/-0.5 (P<0.001). The distress scores of relatives of survivors (2.7+/-1.0) were no higher than the ones of relatives of non-survivors (2.4+/-0.6) during the ICU stay, but significantly lower than staff expectations (3.2+/-0.5) (P<0.01). The use of medication was moderate.


CONCLUSIONS
The relatives' satisfaction was greater than anticipated by the staff. Staff generally expected a higher degree of distress among relatives than was actually the case. Relatives were very satisfied with the support and communication in the ICU despite substantial distress. Relatives of survivors and non-survivors were equally satisfied.
Myhren
Hilde
H
Department of Acute Medicine, University of Oslo, 0407 Oslo, Norway. hiltro@c2i.net
Ekeberg
Øivind
Ø
Langen
Ingrid
I
Stokland
Olav
O
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003142:Communication; D003422:Critical Care; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006268:Health Facilities; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008297:Male; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires