Survey of caregiver opinions on the practicalities of family-centred care in intensive care units

Abstract

Aims and objectives: To determine caregiver opinion on their intensive care unit's policies with regard to visiting hours, how families are informed and participate in patient care.

Background: Benefits of improving family access to the intensive care unit, information delivery and participation of families in care have been suggested.

Design: Survey of caregivers working in French-speaking intensive care units.

Methods: An e-mail invitation to complete an online, closed-ended questionnaire was issued to caregivers registered in the mailing list of the French society of intensive care.

Results: Caregivers (n = 731) working in 222 adult and 41 paediatric intensive care units completed the questionnaire. Unlike in paediatric intensive care units, 58% of adult intensive care unit had restricted visiting hours (< 4 hour). However, 63% of respondents would recommend extended visiting periods. A 24-hour policy existed in 7% of adult intensive care units; 10% of respondents from these intensive care units thought reducing visiting periods would be very useful or essential; 81% thought that a 24-hour policy contributed to improved relations with families; and only 9% thought that it was a hindrance to care. Over 90% of caregivers thought that families should be informed of patient progress in a designated room in the presence of the patient's nurse and that patient records should report family meetings. This policy was only implemented in half of the cases. Family participation in care procedures was strongly encouraged in only 0·5% of adult intensive care units.

Conclusions: Intensive care unit caregivers are in favour of longer visiting hours, increased use of designated rooms for, and nurse participation in, meetings with families. Although caregivers do not associate families with care procedures, they considered that their presence during most interventions should be authorised.

Relevance to clinical practice: Our results could help in implementing intensive care unit policies concerning visiting hours, how families are informed and participate in patient care.