title: Family satisfaction in the intensive care unit: a quantitative and qualitative analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess family satisfaction in the intensive care unit (ICU) and areas for improvement using quantitative and qualitative analyses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective cohort study performed in four (mixed surgical, neurological, and cardiological) intensive care units of a university hospital in Germany, using a translated and validated version of the Family Satisfaction in the ICU (FS-ICU) questionnaire, with questions answerable on a rating scale and three open-ended questions about strengths and weaknesses. Quantitative analysis was performed to identify items with low performance and high importance. For qualitative analysis, comments were coded and analyzed to identify important themes. Patient-related data were obtained from an electronic patient data management system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants were 215 family members visiting adult intensive care patients with length of stay over 48 h. Response rate was 28 %. Respondents were highly satisfied; summary scores were 78.3 ± 14.3 [mean ± standard deviation (SD)] on a scale of 0 (poor) to 100 (excellent). Regression analysis failed to identify association with patient- or family-related factors. The following themes for possible improvement emerged from both quantitative and qualitative analyses: patient agitation-consistency, clarity and completeness of information-emotional support-respect and compassion towards families. Families were also dissatisfied with the waiting room, ICU atmosphere, and amenities for visiting relatives.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Families report high satisfaction with intensive care. Nevertheless, there is room for improvement, in particular regarding how ICU staff communicate with families and provide emotional support.
authors: Integrated Research and Treatment Center, Center for Sepsis Control and Care, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany.
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Schwarzkopf
authors: Susanne
authors: S
authors: Behrend
authors: Helga
authors: H
authors: Skupin
authors: Isabella
authors: I
authors: Westermann
authors: Niels C
authors: NC
authors: Riedemann
authors: Rüdiger
authors: R
authors: Pfeifer
authors: Albrecht
authors: A
authors: Günther
authors: Otto W
authors: OW
authors: Witte
authors: Konrad
authors: K
authors: Reinhart
authors: Christiane S
authors: CS
authors: Hartog
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D003422:Critical Care / Q000592:standards*; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D058996:Quality Improvement; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires