title: Voices of family members and significant others in the tele-intensive care unit.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Research suggests that tele-intensive care units (tele-ICUs) are associated with decreases in mortality rates, length of stay, and health care costs. However, little is known about the awareness and perceptions of the tele-ICU among patients' significant others.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess whether patients' significant others were informed about the tele-ICU, what their preferences are regarding source and type of information about the tele-ICU, and what their perceptions are of the impact of the tele-ICU on patient care.
  
  
  METHODS
  A survey was conducted with a nonprobability, convenience sample of patients' significant others at 3 health systems.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two-thirds of patients' significant others reported that they were uninformed about the tele-ICU and identified staff as the preferred source for this information. The 3 most important topics of information were patients' physical privacy, impact on patient care, and the technology. Most expressed favorable perceptions of the tele-ICU.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This pilot study demonstrated significant gaps in communication about the tele-ICU between staff and patients' significant others and revealed a preference to be informed about the tele-ICU by staff. Study findings will help define goals, objectives, and methods for further research to improve communication with patients' significant others about the tele-ICU.
authors: Philips Healthcare, 3000 Minuteman Road, Bldg. 4 MS500, Andover, MA 01810, USA. mary.jahrsdoerfer@philips.com
authors: Mary
authors: M
authors: Jahrsdoerfer
authors: Susan
authors: S
authors: Goran
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003142:Communication; D003625:Data Collection; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013685:Telecommunications