[Physicians' attitudes and perceptions regarding the critical care and critical care specialty].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the attitudes and perceptions of the doctors of a hospital regarding critical care and the speciality of Intensive Medicine.


METHODS
Prospective, descriptive study during 3 months.


METHODS
Insular University Hospital in Gran CanaRia, Canary Islands, Spain.


METHODS
Medical specialists and residents.


METHODS
Anonymous survey.


METHODS
Demographic data of the interviewed doctors were collected and they were asked about their labour or personal previous relation with the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), the attitudes of the critical care doctors' of their hospital and their perceptions regarding the critical care speciality.


RESULTS
We interviewed 116 doctors, 75 staff and 41 residents. Less of the third part believed that the ICU was a ward for potentially critical patients. A high percentage of the doctors whom had been refused some admission were not to agree with the arguments that they received. More than 40% of the interviewed ones affirmed had not requested bed in the ICU for any patient who had benefited from it, especially because they were thinking that the admission would be refused. Some doctors think that the professio - nals employed at the ICU are doctors of different specialities. The speciality of Intensive Medicine is perceived by a high level of stress among the professionals.


CONCLUSIONS
We detect the ignorance of other professionals about the function of a Service of Intensive Medicine and the model of ICU of our country. Also we find high rates of dissatisfaction among the professionals who was refused some admission in the unit, because of we believe that clinical guides about the criteria of admission must be elaborated and to announce them among the doctors of the hospital. The professionals perceive that we suffer a high level of stress.
Santana Cabrera
L
L
Servicio de Medicina Intensiva. Hospital Universitario Insular de Gran Canaria. Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Canarias. España. lsancabx@gobiernodecanarias.org
Sánchez-Palacios
M
M
Rodríguez González
F
F
Hernández Medina
E
E
Casamitjana Ortega
A
A
Fernández Arroyo
M
M
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002321:Career Choice; D003422:Critical Care / Q000523:psychology*; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D007396:Internship and Residency; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology*; D008511:Medicine; D008875:Middle Aged; D010343:Patient Admission; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013030:Spain; D013038:Specialization; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology
Actitudes y percepciones del personal médico del hospital acerca de los Cuidados Intensivos y de la especialidad de Medicina Intensiva.