Necesidades de los familiares de pacientes críticos en un hospital académico de Chile / Needs of relatives of critically ill patients in an academic hospital in Chile

Objetivo: Identificar el grado de importancia de las necesidades de los familiares de pacientes en una unidad de cuidados intensivos (UCI). Método: Estudio descriptivo, comparativo y transversal realizado a partir de un análisis secundario de datos de 251 familiares de pacientes de una UCI en un hospital universitario en Santiago, Chile. Utilizando un muestreo no aleatorio se aplicó el instrumento Critical Care Family Needs Inventory para conocer las necesidades familiares, además de un cuestionario sociodemográfico que incluyó: edad, género, nivel educacional, relación con el paciente y experiencia previa en UCI. Se realizó análisis estadístico descriptivo, prueba t de Student y ANOVA. Resultados: Las necesidades familiares más importantes se relacionaron con las dimensiones de «seguridad» (X¯=3,90) e «información» (X¯=3,76), mientras que las de menor importancia se relacionaron con la de «apoyo» (X¯=3,09). En esta última, se observaron diferencias a mayor edad (p<0,05), nivel educacional (p<0,001) y relación con el paciente (p<0,05). Conclusiones: Las necesidades más relevantes para los familiares en la UCI se relacionan con la seguridad e información. Las necesidades de menor importancia están influidas por ciertas variables sociodemográficas. La identificación del grado de importancia de las necesidades familiares permitirá al equipo de salud mejorar su relación con las familias en las UCI (AU)

Objective: To identify the importance of the needs of family members of patients in an intensive care unit (ICU). Method: Descriptive, comparative and cross-sectional study based on a secondary data analysis of 251 relatives of ICU patients at a university hospital in Santiago, Chile. Using non-random sampling, the 'Critical Care Family Needs Inventory' was used to establish the family needs, as well as a sociodemographic questionnaire that included: age, gender, educational level, patient relationship and previous ICU experience. A descriptive statistical analysis, Student's T test and ANOVA were performed. Results: The most important family needs related to the dimensions of 'security' (mean=3.90) and 'information' (mean=3.76), while those of minor importance with 'support' (mean=3.09). In the latter, differences were observed at an older age (P<.05), an educational level (P<.001) and relationship with the patient (P<.05). Conclusions: The most relevant needs for family members in the ICU are related to safety and information. Less important needs are influenced by certain sociodemographic variables. Identifying the degree of importance of family needs will allow the health team to improve its relationship with families in ICUs (AU)

Needs of relatives of critically ill patients in an academic hospital in Chile. / Necesidades de los familiares de pacientes críticos en un hospital académico de Chile.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the importance of the needs of family members of patients in an intensive care unit (ICU). METHOD: Descriptive, comparative and cross-sectional study based on a secondary data analysis of 251 relatives of ICU patients at a university hospital in Santiago, Chile. Using non-random sampling, the 'Critical Care Family Needs Inventory' was used to establish the family needs, as well as a sociodemographic questionnaire that included: age, gender, educational level, patient relationship and previous ICU experience. A descriptive statistical analysis, Student's T test and ANOVA were performed. RESULTS: The most important family needs related to the dimensions of 'security' (mean=3.90) and 'information' (mean=3.76), while those of minor importance with 'support' (mean=3.09). In the latter, differences were observed at an older age (P<.05), an educational level (P<.001) and relationship with the patient (P<.05). CONCLUSIONS: The most relevant needs for family members in the ICU are related to safety and information. Less important needs are influenced by certain sociodemographic variables. Identifying the degree of importance of family needs will allow the health team to improve its relationship with families in ICUs.