[Measuring the satisfaction of patients admitted to the intensive care unit and of their families]

Abstract

Objective: To determine the level of satisfaction of family members with the care and decision making process, and to know the level of satisfaction of patients discharged from ICU.

Design: A prospective, observational and descriptive study with a duration of 5 months was carried out.

Setting: The ICU of Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital, Santander (Spain).

Subjects: Family members of adult patients admitted to the ICU and patients discharged to the ward.

Instrument: Family Satisfaction Intensive Care Survey (FS-ICU 34) of family members of patients discharged to the ward. We adapted the FS-ICU 34 in relation to care for application to the patients.

Results: A total of 385 questionnaires were obtained: 192 from families of survivors and 162 from patients, and 31 from relatives of non-survivors. The majority of relatives were satisfied with overall care and overall decision making (survivors: 83.46 ± 11.83 and 79.42 ± 13.58, respectively; non-survivors: 80.41 ± 17.27 and 79.61 ± 16.93, respectively). Patients were very satisfied with the care received (84.71 ± 12.85).

Conclusions: The level of satisfaction of the relatives of patients admitted to the ICU is high, in the same way as the degree of patient satisfaction. Still, there are several points that should be improved, such as the waiting room environment and the atmosphere of the ICU in terms of noise, privacy and lighting. In relation to the decision making process, there are also some aspects that may be improved, such as the provision of hope regarding recovery of the critically ill relative.

Keywords: Calidad; Encuestas; Familiares; Family; Pacientes; Patients; Quality; Satisfacción; Satisfaction; Surveys.