Family participation in the care of the critical patient: An exploratory study.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the level of readiness of the healthcare team regarding family participation in the care of the critically ill adult and their relationship with the individual characteristics of the participants in a medical-surgical intensive care unit (ICU) in Santiago de Chile. METHOD: A cross-sectional correlational study using a quantitative method and including a focus group to explore the perception of healthcare staff of family participation in the care of the critically ill patient. RESULTS: The level of readiness of the healthcare team for family participation in the care of the critically ill patient is medium, at 13.81 out of a total 20. The greater the readiness, the lower the age (r = -0.215; P = 0.019), the higher the rating of previous experience working with families (r = 0.304; P = 0.006), and the higher the perception of being comfortable with different activities in the care of the critical patient (r = 0.495: P < 0.001). The participants also state that the work environment of the unit, the patient's condition, the relatives' characteristics, personal judgement, and the preparedness of relatives affect their readiness. CONCLUSIONS: The results contribute towards determining the healthcare team's level of readiness in a setting where the subject of the study has not been implemented. The readiness of the healthcare team is medium, and is related to individual characteristics of the healthcare staff, and to organizational and family aspects. Therefore, strategies are required to address these aspects that might increase readiness.

Participación de la familia en el cuidado del paciente crítico: un estudio exploratorio / Family participation in the care of the critical patient: An exploratory study

Objetivos: Identificar el nivel de disposición (readiness) del equipo de salud frente a la participación familiar en el cuidado del paciente crítico adulto y su relación con las características individuales de los participantes, en una unidad de paciente crítico (UCI) médico-quirúrgica de Santiago de Chile. Método: Estudio correlacional de corte transversal que utiliza un método cuantitativo e incorpora un grupo focal para profundizar en la percepción del personal de salud respecto a la participación familiar en el cuidado del paciente crítico. Resultados: El nivel de readiness (disposición) del equipo de salud frente la participación familiar en el cuidado del paciente crítico es medio, siendo 13,81 puntos de un total de 20. A mayor nivel de disposición menor edad (r=−0,215; p=0,019), mejor calificación de la experiencia previa de trabajo con familias (r=0,304; p=0,006) y mayor percepción de comodidad frente a diferentes actividades del cuidado del paciente crítico (r=0,495; p<0,001). Los participantes afirman además que el contexto laboral de la unidad, la condición del paciente, las características de los familiares, el criterio personal y la preparación del familiar afectan su nivel de disposición. Conclusiones: Los resultados aportan al conocimiento de la disposición (readiness) del equipo de salud en un contexto donde la temática no se ha implementado. El nivel de disposición del equipo de salud es medio; se relaciona con algunas características individuales del personal de salud, así como con aspectos organizacionales y familiares, de modo que se requieren estrategias que aborden estos aspectos y así el nivel de disposición podría aumentar.(AU)

Objectives: To determine the level of readiness of the healthcare team regarding family participation in the care of the critically ill adult and their relationship with the individual characteristics of the participants in a medical-surgical intensive care unit (ICU) in Santiago de Chile. Method: A cross-sectional correlational study using a quantitative method and including a focus group to explore the perception of healthcare staff of family participation in the care of the critically ill patient. Results: The level of readiness of the healthcare team for family participation in the care of the critically ill patient is medium, at 13.81 out of a total 20. The greater the readiness, the lower the age (r=−.215; P=.019), the higher the rating of previous experience working with families (r=.304; P=.006), and the higher the perception of being comfortable with different activities in the care of the critical patient (r=.495: P<.001). The participants also state that the work environment of the unit, the patient's condition, the relatives’ characteristics, personal judgement, and the preparedness of relatives affect their readiness. Conclusions: the results contribute towards determining the healthcare team's level of readiness in a setting where the subject of the study has not been implemented. The readiness of the healthcare team is medium, and is related to individual characteristics of the healthcare staff, and to organizational and family aspects. Therefore, strategies are required to address these aspects that might increase readiness.(AU)