title: Satisfaction with communication in ICU patients and relatives: comparisons with medical staffs' expectations and the relationship with psychological distress.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study intensive care unit (ICU) patients' and relatives' satisfaction in regard to communication with medical staff (nurses and physicians), perceived support, environmental strain and their psychological distress. Further, to compare this with expectations of the medical staff.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study, 4-6 weeks post-ICU discharge. Respondents to the questionnaire were: 255 (63%) patients, 354 (82%) relatives and 145 (74%) medical staff. Degree of satisfaction and distress were measured on a five-point Likert-scale (0=low to 4=high).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean score for patient satisfaction with communication was 3.0 (95%CI 2.9-3.1) and for relatives 3.4 (3.3-3.5). This was significantly higher than expected by the staff for patients 2.5 (2.4-2.6) and relatives 2.8 (2.7-2.9), both p<0.001. Relatives' degree of psychological distress, 2.5 (2.4-2.6) was significantly higher than for patients', 1.6 (1.5-1.7), but was significantly lower than expected by the staff, 2.9 (2.8-3.0) and 2.7 (2.6-2.8) respectively, both p<0.001.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients and relatives were more satisfied with the communication than expected by the staff. The staff overestimated the patients' and relatives' psychological distress. Relatives report more psychological distress symptoms post-ICU discharge compared to the patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Medical staff is aware of psychological distress in ICU patients and relatives and effort to reduce this during ICU stay and afterwards should be implemented.
authors.affiliation: Intensive Care Unit, Oslo University Hospital, Ullevål, Norway. himy@uus.no
authors.forename: Hilde
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Myhren
authors.forename: Øivind
authors.initials: Ø
authors.lastname: Ekeberg
authors.forename: Olav
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Stokland
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003142:Communication; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires