Family satisfaction in Egyptian adult intensive care units: A mixed-method study.

OBJECTIVES

To examine family members' satisfaction in adult intensive care units.

METHODOLOGY

This is mixed-method research. Family members of critically ill patients responded to a structured questionnaire and then were interviewed using semi-structured interviews. Quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed separately and integrated during the discussion.

SETTINGS

Six adult intensive care units in university hospitals in Egypt.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Family satisfaction was assessed using the Critical Care Family Satisfaction Survey and field notes of the interviews.

RESULTS

The mean total satisfaction score was 12.8 ± 3.5, and comfort has the lowest subscale mean score: 2.07 ± 0.96. Multivariate regression analysis showed that family members' satisfaction was positively associated with their ability to communicate with patients (B [95% confidence interval]: 2.1 [1.19 to 3.02]) and negatively with daily purchasing of medications and supplies (-2.41 [-3.23 to -1.59]), low economic status (-1.57 [-2.47 to -0.67]), and perceiving patient condition to be deteriorating (-0.99 [-1.93 to -0.04]). Content analysis of qualitative data revealed four themes: aspects of family care, aspects of patient care, organizational and administrative issues and environment.

CONCLUSIONS

In Egyptian adult intensive care units, regular family meetings, flexible visiting hours, shared decision-making, increasing staff-to-patient ratio and ensuring comfortable waiting rooms are promising strategies to enhance family satisfaction.