title: Information needs of family members of critically ill patients in intensive care unit of a tertiary hospital.
abstract: BACKGROUND AND AIMS. The experience in intensive care unit (ICU) has created an intense emotional situation both to patients and their family members. The aim of this study was to determine the family members information needs of critically ill patients in ICU.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 200 family members of patients admitted in ICU. A face to face interview was conducted and a self-report questionnaire of the Critical Care Family Needs Inventory (CCFNI) was used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Findings reported CCFNI five sub-attributes that ranked from highest to lowest included: support (mean 39.13 ± 6.189); proximity (mean 27.17 ± 3.384); information (mean 24.25 ± 3.093); assurance (mean 22.67 ± 1.862) and comfort (mean 16.24 ± 2.776). There were no significant differences in needs between family members with different gender (p >0.05). However, there were significant differences in support needs between family members with admission to ICU with (t=-2.111; p <0.05). There were significant differences in assurance needs (F=3.542; p <0.05) and information needs (F=3.681; p <0.05) between family members with age. There were no significant differences in needs between family members with different education level (p >0.05) whereas assurance needs were significant differences with education level of (F=3.542; p <0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that family members perceived support and proximity as the most crucial need. Comfort need was viewed as least important. Although this study was conducted in a tertiary hospital, the findings could still provide insight for nurses to improve the delivery of care to patients and family members.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Jalan, Yaacob Latiff, 56000, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Noor Siah
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: M Z
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Jafaar
authors.forename: Y C
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Choy
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Das
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Ismail
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barnett
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D032882:Comprehension; D003422:Critical Care / Q000941:ethics; D016638:Critical Illness / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology; D004644:Emotions; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008296:Malaysia; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D057566:Self Report; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014342:Truth Disclosure; D055815:Young Adult