title: Analysis of family satisfaction in intensive care unit.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To know the needs and level of family members' satisfaction is an essential part of the care provided to critically ill patients in intensive care units. The objective of this study was to identify the level of family members' satisfaction in an intensive care unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive survey was carried out in the general adult intensive care unit of the Hospital Português (Salvador - BA) from November 2007 to January 2008. Jonhson's 14-question modified version of the Critical Care Family Needs Inventory was used to evaluate satisfaction of family members.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty three family members were included, mean age was 44 years and 68% were female. The median of family members satisfaction level was 11 (IQI = 9-13). Critical Care Family Need Inventory, questions with higher percentiles of satisfaction were those stating that family members felt that the patient was receiving the best possible care (96%) and that the information provided was honest (96%). The questions with lower percentiles of satisfaction were those stating that family members believed that someone in the intensive care unit had shown interest in their feelings (45%) and that a healthcare professional had explained how the intensive care unit equipment was used (41%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most family members positively evaluated the intensive care unit professionals in the questions related to communication, attitude and patient care. However, there was a lower level of satisfaction in the questions related to the intensive care unit professionals' ability to comfort family members.
authors.affiliation: Unidade de Terapia Intensiva Geral, Hospital Português, Salvador, BA, Brasil.
authors.forename: Flávia Branco Cerqueira Serra
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Neves
authors.affiliation: Unidade de Terapia Intensiva Geral, Hospital Português, Salvador, BA, Brasil.
authors.forename: Maíra Pereira
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Dantas
authors.affiliation: Unidade de Terapia Intensiva Geral, Hospital Português, Salvador, BA, Brasil.
authors.forename: Almir Galvão Vieira
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Bitencourt
authors.affiliation: Unidade de Terapia Intensiva Geral, Hospital Português, Salvador, BA, Brasil.
authors.forename: Patrícia Sena
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Vieira
authors.affiliation: Unidade de Terapia Intensiva Geral, Hospital Português, Salvador, BA, Brasil.
authors.forename: Lis Thomazini
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Magalhães
authors.affiliation: Unidade de Terapia Intensiva Geral, Hospital Português, Salvador, BA, Brasil.
authors.forename: José Mário Meira
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Teles
authors.affiliation: Unidade de Terapia Intensiva Geral, Hospital Português, Salvador, BA, Brasil.
authors.forename: Augusto Manoel de Carvalho
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Farias
authors.affiliation: Unidade de Terapia Intensiva Geral, Hospital Português, Salvador, BA, Brasil.
authors.forename: Octávio Henrique Coelho
authors.initials: OH
authors.lastname: Messeder