title: Preferences of Current and Potential Patients and Family Members Regarding Implementation of Electronic Communication Portals in Intensive Care Units.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The quality of communication with patients and family members in intensive care units (ICUs) is a focus of current interest for clinical care improvement. Electronic communication portals are commonly used in other healthcare settings to improve communication. We do not know whether patients and family members desire such portals in ICUs, and if so, what functionality they should provide.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To define interest in and desired elements of an electronic communication portal among current and potential ICU patients and their family members.
  
  
  METHODS
  We surveyed, via an Internet panel, 1,050 English-speaking adults residing in the United States with a personal or family history of an ICU admission within 10 years (cohort A) and 1,050 individuals without a history of such admission (cohort B). We also administered a survey instrument in person to 105 family members of patients currently admitted to ICUs at an academic medical center in Boston (cohort C).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Respondents, especially current ICU family members, supported an electronic communication portal, including access via an electronic tablet. They wanted at least daily updates, one-paragraph summaries of family meetings including a list of key decisions made, and knowledge of the role and experience of treating clinicians. Overall, they preferred detailed rather than "big picture" information. Respondents were generally comfortable sharing information with their family members. Preferences regarding a communication portal varied significantly by age, sex, ethnicity, and prior experience with ICU hospitalization.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Electronic communication portals appear welcome in contemporary ICUs. Frequent updates, knowledge about the professional qualifications of clinicians, detailed medical information, and documentation of family meetings are particularly desired.
authors.affiliation: 1 Center for Healthcare Delivery Science.|2 Center for Humanizing Critical Care, Intermountain Healthcare and Department of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah.
authors.forename: Samuel M
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1206-6261
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: 3 Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; and.
authors.forename: Sigall K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.affiliation: 1 Center for Healthcare Delivery Science.
authors.forename: Stephanie D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Roche
authors.affiliation: 4 Patient and Family Advisory Council, and.
authors.forename: Erica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dente
authors.affiliation: 3 Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; and.
authors.forename: Ariel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mueller
authors.affiliation: 1 Center for Healthcare Delivery Science.
authors.forename: Tae-Eun
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: 1 Center for Healthcare Delivery Science.
authors.forename: Kristin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: O'Reilly
authors.affiliation: 5 Department of Social Work, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Barbara Sarnoff
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: 1 Center for Healthcare Delivery Science.|3 Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; and.
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sands
authors.affiliation: 3 Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; and.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Talmor
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003142:Communication; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000072638:Patient Portals / Q000592:standards*; D057240:Patient Preference / Q000523:psychology*; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States
keywords: communication; critical care; electronic portals; patient-centered care; personal health records