One-day quantitative cross-sectional study of family information time in 90 intensive care units in France.
BACKGROUND
Providing family members with clear, honest, and timely information is a major task for intensive care unit physicians. Time spent informing families has been associated with effectiveness of information but has not been measured in specifically designed studies.


OBJECTIVE
To measure time spent informing families of intensive care unit patients.


METHODS
One-day cross-sectional study in 90 intensive care units in France.


METHODS
Clocked time spent by physicians informing the families of each of 951 patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit during a 24-hr period.


RESULTS
Median family information time was 16 (interquartile range, 8-30) mins per patient, with 20% of the time spent explaining the diagnosis, 20% on explaining treatments, and 60% on explaining the prognosis. One third of the time was spent listening to family members. Multivariable analysis identified one factor associated with less information time (room with more than one bed) and seven factors associated with more information time, including five patient-related factors (surgery on the study day, higher Logistic Organ Dysfunction score, coma, mechanical ventilation, and worsening clinical status) and two family-related factors (first contact with family and interview with the spouse). Median information time was 20 (interquartile range, 10-39) mins when three factors were present and 106.5 (interquartile range, 103-110) mins when five were present.


CONCLUSIONS
This study identifies factors associated with information time provided by critical care physicians to family members of critically ill patients. Whether information time correlates with communication difficulties or communication skills needs to be evaluated. Information time provided by residents and nurses should be studied.
Fassier
Thomas
T
Intensive Care Unit of the Saint-Louis Teaching Hospital and University of Paris 7, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France.
Darmon
Michel
M
Laplace
Christian
C
Chevret
Sylvie
S
Schlemmer
Benoit
B
Pochard
Frédéric
F
Azoulay
Elie
E
D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards; D003142:Communication; D003422:Critical Care / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000458:organization & administration; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010819:Physician's Role / Q000523:psychology; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D011379:Prognosis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D013996:Time and Motion Studies; D014789:Visitors to Patients / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology