The needs of relative visiting adult critical care units as perceived by relatives and nurses. Part I.

This was a descriptive study, aimed at identifying the needs of relatives while they were visiting adult critical care units. A convenience sample of 24 critical care units participated, involving 351 critical care nurses and 255 visiting relatives. Using an adaptation of Molter's Critical Care Family Needs Inventory, the objectives of the study were: To compare (in ranking order) relatives' perceptions of how important their needs were with how important critical care nurses perceived them to be. To identify how satisfied relatives were with how their needs were met, while visiting the unit. To compare who relatives perceived to be the most appropriate person to fulfill each of their needs, with who nurses assessed to be the most appropriate person to fulfill the relatives needs. Relatives highlighted the importance of re-assurance and their need for sufficient information about their family member. Critical care nurses were only moderately accurate in assessing how important relatives' needs were, according to the findings from this relatives' group. Relatives were 'satisfied' with how the majority of their needs had been met. Only 10 of the 30 needs were considered to have been met to 'very satisfactory' level by at least 60% of the sample group. Nurses were identified by relatives as being the most appropriate person to fulfil 19 out of the 30 needs. Whereas nurses perceived themselves to be the most appropriate people to fulfill 25 of the 30 needs for relatives. The implications for clinical practice are also discussed.