Psychological distress, social support, and family satisfaction among family members of non-COVID-19 critical care patients: A cross-sectional study.

PURPOSE: This study aims to explore the associations among psychological distress, perceived social support, and family satisfaction among family members of non-COVID-19 intensive care unit (ICU) patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. METHODS: Family members of patients with at least 48 h in the ICU and without a COVID-19 diagnosis were screened between January and March 2021. For enrolled ICU family members, five questionnaires for perceived stress (Perceived Stress Scale), anxiety symptoms (General Anxiety Disorder-7), depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), perceived social support (Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey), and family satisfaction (Family Satisfaction with Care in the Intensive Care Unit-24) were administered by phone either in English or Spanish language. Sociodemographic and patient clinical data were also collected. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlations, Mann-Whitney U, and Fisher's exact tests. FINDINGS: Of 87 eligible ICU family members, 63 were enrolled (72.4%); 27% of the sample presented with clinically significant symptoms of anxiety, 25.4% with depression, and 76.2% had a high perception of social support. ICU family members with low/fair perceived social support reported statistically significantly higher perceived stress and lower family satisfaction. Perceived stress was negatively correlated with family satisfaction. Clinically significant symptoms of anxiety and depression were not statistically associated with family satisfaction or perceived social support. CONCLUSIONS: While ICU admission-related stress may undermine family satisfaction, perceived social support may be positively associated with the way that ICU family members of non-COVID-19 patients evaluate the quality of care in the ICU. Knowing the factors that influence family satisfaction in the ICU may assist stakeholders and policy developers to improve family-centered care in the hospital setting. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Early screening for psychological distress and social support levels during admission should be included in updates of visiting and communication policies in the ICU. Prompt identification of family members at risk of a poor ICU experience may enhance efforts to support them, particularly in acute care settings where differentiated approaches to COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 ICU family members are established.

Cultural adaptation and psychometric properties of the Chilean-Spanish version of the Family Satisfaction in the Intensive Care Unit - 24 questionnaire.

OBJECTIVE: To adapt and validate the Spanish version of the Family Satisfaction in the Intensive Care Unit - 24 (FS ICU-24) questionnaire among relatives of critically ill patients in a teaching hospital in Chile. DESIGN: Prospective observational study aimed to validate a measuring instrument. SETTING: Medical-surgical intensive care unit (ICU) of a teaching hospital in Chile. PATIENTS OR PARTICIPANTS: Two hundred and forty relatives of critically ill patients with at least48 h in the ICU, older than 18 years, and with at least one visit to the patient. INTERVENTIONS: None. MAIN VARIABLES OF INTEREST: Content validity, construct validity, and reliability analysis of the Spanish version of the FS ICU-24 were evaluated. RESULTS: The Spanish version of the FS ICU-24 was adapted, improving its understanding and clarity. The factor analysis showed an optimal solution of 3 factors for the Chilean-Spanish version of the FS ICU-24, which explain 51% of the total variance. Reliability was adequate for the global scale (α = 0.93) and the dimensions of satisfaction with patient and family care (α = 0.82), satisfaction with communication (α = 0.91) and satisfaction with decision-making (α = 0.71). CONCLUSIONS: The Chilean-Spanish version of the FS ICU-24 proved to be valid and reliable for the evaluation of family satisfaction in the ICU. Having a valid instrument will allow health institutions to accurately identify areas for improvement in the care of the family members and the critically ill patient.

Asociación entre carga laboral de enfermería, gravedad del paciente y mortalidad en pacientes críticos de un hospital público / Association between nursing workload, patient severity, and mortality in critically ill patients in a public hospital

OBJETIVO: Determinar la asociación entre la carga laboral de enfermería, gravedad del paciente, y mortalidad en una unidad de pacientes críticos (UPC) de un hospital público en Chile. METODOLOGÍA: Estudio retrospectivo, correlacional, que analizó fichas clínicas de pacientes de una UPC. Se recolectaron variables demográficas, clínicas, gravedad de paciente (APACHE II) y carga de trabajo de enfermería (TISS-28) al ingreso del paciente. Se realizaron análisis descriptivos y bivariados. Se utilizaron regresiones logísticas para identificar las variables asociadas a mortalidad en la UPC y hospitalaria. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron 311 pacientes con una mediana de 7 días (RIQ=9,5) de estadía en la UPC. Un 48,9% ingreso desde el servicio de urgencia y un 25,7% tuvo un diagnostico neurológico. El puntaje TISS-28 se asoció positivamente con el del APACHE II (r=0,359, p<0,001) y los días de estadía en UPC (r=0,146, p<0,05). En los modelos de regresión, la mortalidad en UPC estuvo asociada con el puntaje APACHE II (OR=1,109, p<0,001) y el TISS-28 (OR=0,955, p<0,05). Los puntajes de APACHE II y TISS-28 no se asociaron significativamente con la mortalidad hospitalaria. CONCLUSIÓN: Una mayor gravedad del paciente critico se asoció con un aumento en la carga de trabajo de enfermería. La mortalidad en UPC se asoció negativamente con la carga de trabajo en enfermería, pero positivamente con la gravedad de paciente. La carga de trabajo de enfermería es una variable relevante en el desenlace del paciente crítico por lo que debe evaluarse regularmente y de este modo, asegurar dotaciones que respondan a las demandas asistenciales del paciente en la UPC.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the association among nursing workload, patient severity of illness, and mortality in an intensive care unit (ICU) of a public hospital in Chile. METHODS: Retrospective, correlational study that analyzed clinical records of ICU patients. Demographic, clinical, severity of illness (APACHE II), and nursing workload (TISS-28) variables were collected upon patient admission. Descriptive and bivariate analyses were performed. Logistic regressions were used to identify the variables associated with ICU and hospital mortality. RESULTS: 311 patients with a median of 7 days (IQR = 9.5) of stay at the ICU were included; 48.9% were admitted from the emergency department and 25.7% had a neurological diagnosis. The TISS-28 score was positively associated with the APACHE II score (r =0.359, p < 0.001) and ICU length of stay (r =0.146, p < 0.05). Deceased patients presented a higher APACHE II score than the survivors during their ICU stay (p < 0.001) and in the hospital (p < 0.01). In the regression models, ICU mortality was associated with the APACHE II (OR = 1.109, p < 0.001) and the TISS-28 (OR = 0.955, p < 0.05) score. APACHE II and TISS-28 scores were not significantly associated with hospital mortality. CONCLUSIONS: A greater severity of illness was associated with an increase in the nursing workload. Mortality in critical patient units was negatively associated with nursing workload, but positively associated with patient severity of illness. Nursing workload is a relevant variable in the outcome of the critically ill patient and must be regularly evaluated to ensure there are sufficient resources to respond to the ICU patient's care demands.

The COVID-19 vaccination acceptance/hesitancy rate and its determinants among healthcare workers of 91 Countries: A multicenter cross-sectional study.

The aim of this study was to investigate the COVID-19 vaccination acceptance rate and its determinants among healthcare workers in a multicenter study. This was a cross-sectional multi-center survey conducted from February 5 to April 29, 2021. The questionnaire consisted of 26 items in 6 subscales. The English version of the questionnaire was translated into seven languages and distributed through Google Forms using snowball sampling; a colleague in each country was responsible for the forward and backward translation, and also the distribution of the questionnaire. A forward stepwise logistic regression was utilized to explore the variables and questionnaire factors tied to the intention to COVID-19 vaccination. 4630 participants from 91 countries completed the questionnaire. According to the United Nations Development Program 2020, 43.6 % of participants were from low Human Development Index (HDI) regions, 48.3 % high and very high, and 8.1 % from medium. The overall vaccination hesitancy rate was 37 %. Three out of six factors of the questionnaire were significantly related to intention to the vaccination. While 'Perceived benefits of the COVID-19 vaccination' (OR: 3.82, p-value<0.001) and 'Prosocial norms' (OR: 5.18, p-value<0.001) were associated with vaccination acceptance, 'The vaccine safety/cost concerns' with OR: 3.52, p-value<0.001 was tied to vaccination hesitancy. Medical doctors and pharmacists were more willing to take the vaccine in comparison to others. Importantly, HDI with OR: 12.28, 95 % CI: 6.10-24.72 was a strong positive determinant of COVID-19 vaccination acceptance. This study highlighted the vaccination hesitancy rate of 37 % in our sample among HCWs. Increasing awareness regarding vaccination benefits, confronting the misinformation, and strengthening the prosocial norms would be the primary domains for maximizing the vaccination coverage. The study also showed that the HDI is strongly associated with the vaccination acceptance/hesitancy, in a way that those living in low HDI contexts are more hesitant to receive the vaccine.

Factors associated with family satisfaction in the adult intensive care unit: A literature review.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to identify and summarise factors associated with family satisfaction among family members of adult intensive care unit (ICU) patients. REVIEW METHODS/DATA SOURCES: A search was conducted from inception to October 2020 in the following databases: PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, CINAHL Plus, ProQuest Health Management, PsycINFO, LILACS, and SciELO. Studies reporting the questionnaire's items or dimensions as family satisfaction factors, studies dichotomising family satisfaction outcome, and those involving family members of neonatal, paediatric, palliative, and end-of-life patients were excluded. Quality of the studies was examined through a modified approach to the Consolidated Standards for Reporting Trials (CONSORT). Reported factors were classified as family member, patient, or provider/organisation related. RESULTS: The search yielded 26 articles reporting factors associated with family satisfaction in the ICU. Regarding study quality, 19.2% were classified as high-quality studies. Family member-related variables such as educational level, gender, and kinship to the patient showed divergent associations with family satisfaction. Within patient-related variables, the severity of illness was positively associated with family satisfaction. Factors related to healthcare providers and organisations were reported only in 26.9% of the studies. CONCLUSIONS: A broad number of factors associated with family satisfaction in the ICU were found in this review. However, few nonmodifiable factors related to the family members and the patient showed a significant and consistent association with family satisfaction. Evidence on factors related to healthcare providers was scarce. Gaps in knowledge regarding family satisfaction in the ICU, including methodological issues that impair the validity of the findings, were identified. Future studies should address these limitations to accurately identify factors that impact family satisfaction in the ICU.

Family Satisfaction in the Adult Intensive Care Unit: A Concept Analysis.

Admission of patients to an intensive care unit is often a stressful event for family members. In the context of patient- and family-centered care, family satisfaction is recognized as a quality indicator of intensive care unit care. However, family satisfaction has not been consistently used or conceptualized in the literature. A modified version of Walker and Avant's method for concept analysis was utilized to examine the concept of family satisfaction in the adult intensive care unit. Antecedents, attributes, consequences, and empirical referents of family satisfaction are presented and implications for practice, research, and policy.

Nighttime Sleep Duration Is Associated With Length of Stay Outcomes Among Older Adult Survivors of Critical Illness.

BACKGROUND: Older adults who required mechanical ventilation while in an intensive care unit (ICU) require adequate sleep throughout recovery from critical illness. Poor post-ICU sleep quality may contribute to worsening impairments in physical, cognitive, or psychological status after critical illness, known as post-ICU syndrome. Previous research has evaluated post-ICU sleep with qualitative or mixed methods (eg, interviews, questionnaires). We proposed measurement of sleep with actigraphy. We hypothesized that nighttime sleep is associated with length of stay (LOS). OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to describe sleep quality of previously mechanically ventilated older adults recently transferred out of ICU and explore relationships between sleep duration and LOS outcomes. METHODS: We enrolled 30 older adults, 65 years and older, within 24 to 48 hours after ICU discharge. We collected actigraphy data on post-ICU sleep duration (total sleep time [TST]) and sleep fragmentation (wake time after sleep onset) over 2 consecutive nights. We explored associations between TST and LOS (in days) outcomes using multivariate regression. RESULTS: Subjects' mean TST was 7.55 ± 2.52 hours, and mean wake time after sleep onset was 2.26 ± 0.17 hours. In exploratory regression analyses, longer ICU LOS (ß = 0.543, P < .001) and longer length of mechanical ventilation (ß = 0.420, P = .028) were associated with greater post-ICU TST, after adjusting for potential confounding factors. Total sleep time was prospectively associated with total hospital LOS (ß = 0.535, P < .001). DISCUSSION: Older ICU survivors demonstrate greater sleep duration and worse sleep fragmentation. Poor sleep may contribute to longer LOS, secondary to post-ICU syndrome and sequelae. We recommend nursing interventions to promote sleep consolidation throughout transitions of care in the acute post-ICU recovery period.

Families on adult intensive care units: Are they really satisfied? A literature review.

OBJECTIVES: Family satisfaction in intensive care units (ICU) is of increasing relevance for family-centred cared. The objective of this review was to explore the characteristics of studies that have used questionnaires to measure the satisfaction of family members of ICU patients. REVIEW METHODS: A literature review was performed for studies evaluating family satisfaction in the ICU, independent of design. The following data were obtained for each selected article: publication year, country of origin, design, number of family members, instrument for family satisfaction, instrument score range, response rate, moment at which satisfaction was evaluated, and average level of reported satisfaction. DATA SOURCES: The following databases were systematically searched: PubMed, CINAHL, ProQuest Nursing, ProQuest Social Science, ProQuest Psychology, Science Direct, PsycINFO, LILACS, and Scielo. RESULTS: Thirty-seven articles met inclusion criteria, showing high levels of family satisfaction. Among these, nine different questionnaires were identified. In 31.6% of the studies, family satisfaction was evaluated during the ICU stay, whereas 36.9% did not report the evaluation moment. The mean response rate was 65.5%, and response rates greater than 70% were found only in 28.2% of the studies. CONCLUSIONS: High satisfaction levels among family members of ICU patients must be contextualised in light of questionnaire heterogeneity, low response rates, and variability in the moment at which family satisfaction is evaluated. The creation of methodological standards for evaluating and reporting family satisfaction could facilitate comparing results between investigations in this field.

Impact of two bundles on central catheter-related bloodstream infection in critically ill patients.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of the implementation of insertion and maintenance bundles on the rates of catheter-related bloodstream infection in an intensive care unit. METHOD: This is a quasi-experimental, before-and-after study with a non-equivalent control group. During a six-month period, insertion and maintenance bundles for the central venous catheters were implemented. Supervision guidelines were developed to assess compliance with the bundle and catheter characteristics. RESULTS: A total of 444 central catheters corresponding to 390 patients were observed, of which 68.7% were inserted in the unit. The maintenance and insertion bundles reached 62.9% and 94.7% compliance, respectively, and 50.7% of the insertions were supervised. It was possible to observe a 54.5% decrease in the rate of central catheter infection (3.48 vs 1.52 x 1000 days/catheter, p<0.05) when compared with the control group. CONCLUSION: The simultaneous implementation of insertion and maintenance bundles has a positive impact on the reduction of catheter-related bloodstream infection; therefore it is an efficient alternative to improve the quality and safety of care in high complexity units.

The needs of the relatives in the adult intensive care unit: Cultural adaptation and psychometric properties of the Chilean-Spanish version of the Critical Care Family Needs Inventory.

INTRODUCTION: The admission of a patient to an intensive care unit is an extraordinary event for their family. Although the Critical Care Family Needs Inventory is the most commonly used questionnaire for understanding the needs of relatives of critically ill patients, no Spanish-language version is available. The aim of this study was to culturally adapt and validate theCritical Care Family Needs Inventory in a sample of Chilean relatives of intensive care patients. METHODS: The back-translated version of the inventory was culturally adapted following input from 12 intensive care and family experts. Then, it was evaluated by 10 relatives of recently transferred ICU patients and pre-tested in 10 relatives of patients that were in the intensive care unit. Psychometric properties were assessed through exploratory factor analysis and Cronbach's α in a sample of 251 relatives of critically ill patients. RESULTS: The Chilean-Spanish version of the Critical Care Family Needs Inventoryhad minimal semantic modifications and no items were deleted. A two factor solution explained the 31% of the total instrument variance. Reliability of the scale was good (α=0.93), as were both factors (α=0.87; α=0.93). CONCLUSION: The Chilean-Spanish version of theCritical Care Family Needs Inventory was found valid and reliable for understanding the needs of relatives of patients in acute care settings.

Effort-Reward Imbalance and Burnout Among ICU Nursing Staff: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Occupational stress is commonly observed among staff in intensive care units (ICUs). Sociodemographic, organizational, and job-related factors may lead to burnout among ICU health workers. In addition, these factors could modify the balance between efforts done and rewards perceived by workers; consequently, this imbalance could increase levels of emotional exhaustion and depersonalization and decrease a sense of personal accomplishment. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between effort-reward imbalance and burnout dimensions (emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment) among ICU nursing staff in a university hospital in Santiago, Chile. METHODS: A convenience sample of 36 registered nurses and 46 nurse aides answered the Maslach Burnout Inventory and Effort-Reward Imbalance Questionnaire and provided sociodemographic and work-related data. RESULTS: Age and effort-reward imbalance were significantly associated with emotional exhaustion in both registered nurses and nurse aides; age was negatively correlated with emotional exhaustion, whereas effort-reward imbalance was positively correlated. Age was negatively associated with depersonalization. None of the predictors were associated with personal accomplishment. DISCUSSION: This study adds valuable information about relationships of sociodemographic factors and effort-reward imbalance and their impact on dimensions of burnout, particularly on emotional exhaustion.

Impact of two bundles on central catheter-related bloodstream infection in critically ill patients / Impacto de dois bundles na infeção relacionada a cateter central em pacientes críticos / Impacto de dos bundles en la infección relacionada a catéter central en pacientes críticos

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the impact of the implementation of insertion and maintenance bundles on the rates of catheter-related bloodstream infection in an intensive care unit. Method: This is a quasi-experimental, before-and-after study with a non-equivalent control group. During a six-month period, insertion and maintenance bundles for the central venous catheters were implemented. Supervision guidelines were developed to assess compliance with the bundle and catheter characteristics. Results: A total of 444 central catheters corresponding to 390 patients were observed, of which 68.7% were inserted in the unit. The maintenance and insertion bundles reached 62.9% and 94.7% compliance, respectively, and 50.7% of the insertions were supervised. It was possible to observe a 54.5% decrease in the rate of central catheter infection (3.48 vs 1.52 x 1000 days/catheter, p<0.05) when compared with the control group. Conclusion: The simultaneous implementation of insertion and maintenance bundles has a positive impact on the reduction of catheter-related bloodstream infection; therefore it is an efficient alternative to improve the quality and safety of care in high complexity units.

RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliar o impacto da implementação de bundles de inserção e manutenção nas taxas de infecção da corrente sanguínea relacionada a cateter venoso central numa unidade de terapia intensiva. Método: Trata-se de um estudo quase-experimental do tipo antes e depois com grupo de controle não equivalente. Durante um período de seis meses, foram implementados bundles para inserção e manutenção dos cateteres venosos centrais. Foram elaboradas diretrizes de supervisão para avaliar a conformidade com os bundles e as características dos cateteres. Resultados: Observaram-se 444 cateteres centrais correspondentes a 390 pacientes, dos quais 68,7% foram inseridos na unidade. Os bundles de manutenção e inserção atingiram 62,9% e 94,7% de conformidade respectivamente, e 50,7% das inserções foram supervisadas. Comparado com o grupo de controle, foi possível observar uma diminuição de 54,5% na taxa de infeção do cateter central (3,48 v/s 1,52 x 1000 dias/cateter, p<0.05). Conclusão: O uso simultâneo de bundles de inserção e manutenção tem impacto positivo na diminuição da taxa de infecção da corrente sanguínea relacionada a cateter venoso central, representando uma alternativa eficiente para melhorar a qualidade e segurança assistencial em unidades de alta complexidade.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Evaluar el impacto de la implementación de un bundle de inserción y mantención en las tasas de infección del torrente sanguíneo relacionada a catéter venoso central en una unidad de cuidados intensivos. Método: Estudio cuasi experimental de tipo antes-después con grupo de control no equivalente. Durante un periodo de seis meses, se implementó un bundle para la inserción y mantención de los catéteres venosos centrales. Se elaboraron pautas de supervisión para evaluar el cumplimiento de los bundles y las características de los catéteres. Resultados: Se observaron 444 catéteres centrales, correspondientes a 390 pacientes, de los cuales un 68,7% fueron insertados en la unidad. Los bundles de mantención e inserción alcanzaron un 62,9% y 94,7% de cumplimiento respectivamente, lográndose supervisar un 50,7% de las inserciones. En comparación con el grupo control, se observó una disminución del 54,5% en la tasa de infección de catéter central (3,48 v/s 1,52 x 1000 días/catéter, p<0.05). Conclusión: El uso simultaneo de un bundle para la inserción y mantención impacta positivamente en la disminución de la tasa de infección del torrente sanguíneo relacionada a catéter venoso central, convirtiéndolos en una alternativa efectiva para mejorar la calidad y seguridad asistencial en unidades de alta complejidad.

Most important needs of family members of critical patients in light of the critical care family needs inventory.

OBJECTIVE: This work sought to identify the most important needs for family members of adult critical patients as described in the literature pursuant to the dimensions established in the "Critical Care Family Needs Inventory" (CCFNI) by Molter and Leske. METHODOLOGY: A literature review was carried out by using the CCFNI instrument. The databases used were: Pubmed, CINAHL, Proquest Nursing & Allied Health Source, Proquest Psychology Journals, LILACS, Science Direct, Ovid SP, PsyicINFO, and SciELO. The following limitations for the search were identified: adult patients, articles in English and Spanish, with abstract and complete text available and which had been published from 2003 to June 2013; 15 articles were included. RESULTS: The family's hope on desired results and sincere communication with the healthcare staff turned out to be the most relevant needs, while the least important were related to comfort and having support structures or systems. Most of the studies were conducted in Asia and North America revealing differences in the order of importance assigned to each necessity. Certain sociodemographic and cultural characteristics impact upon how family members rank their needs; this also occurs with the nature of the most important needs for the family and the factors determining their prioritization. CONCLUSION: The articles included in this review mention the frequent interaction with the family and their holistic view of the person beyond the illness, determine that nurses are the most appropriate professionals to know and satisfy the family needs of critical patients.

Most important needs of family members of critical patients in light of the Critical Care Family Needs Inventory / Necesidades más importantes de los familiares del paciente crítico a la luz del instrumento Critical Care Family Needs Inventory / Necessidades importantes dos familiares do paciente crítico à luz do instrumento Critical Care Family Needs Inventory

Objetivo.Identificar las necesidades más importantes de los familiares del paciente crítico adulto descritas en la literatura conforme a las dimensiones establecidas en el "Critical Care Family Needs Inventory" (CCFNI) de Molter & Leske. Metodología.Se revisó la literatura en la cual se utilizó el instrumento CCFNI. Las bases de datos empleadas fueron: Pubmed, CINAHL, Proquest Nursing & Allied Health Source, Proquest Psychology Journals, LILACS, Science Direct, Ovid SP, PsyicINFO, y Scielo. Dentro de los límites de la búsqueda se tuvieron: pacientes adultos, artículos en idioma inglés y español, con resumen y texto completo disponible y que hubieran sido publicados desde el año 2003 a junio de 2013, de los cuales fueron incluidos 15 artículos. Resultados. Como las necesidades más relevantes se destacaron: la esperanza de la familia en los resultados deseados y la comunicación sincera con el personal de salud; mientras que las menos importantes se relacionaron con la comodidad y el contar con estructuras o sistemas apoyo. La mayor parte de los estudios fueron realizados en Asia y Norteamérica, en los cuales se observaron diferencias en el orden de importancia asignado a cada necesidad. Por otra parte, determinadas características sociodemográficas y culturales influyen en el modo en que los familiares jerarquizan sus necesidades, dada la naturaleza de estas y los factores que determinan su priorización. Conclusión. Los artículos incluidos en esta revisión hablan de la frecuente interacción con la familia y su visión holística de la persona más allá de la enfermedad, lo que determina que la enfermera sea la profesional más idónea para conocer y satisfacer las necesidades familiares del paciente crítico.

Objective. This work sought to identify the most important needs for family members of adult critical patients as described in the literature pursuant to the dimensions established in the "Critical Care Family Needs Inventory" (CCFNI) by Molter and Leske. Methodology. A literature review was carried out by using the CCFNI instrument. The databases used were: Pubmed, CINAHL, Proquest Nursing & Allied Health Source, Proquest Psychology Journals, LILACS, Science Direct, Ovid SP, PsyicINFO, and SciELO. The following limitations for the search were identified: adult patients, articles in English and Spanish, with abstract and complete text available and which had been published from 2003 to June 2013; 15 articles were included. Results. The family's hope on desired results and sincere communication with the healthcare staff turned out to be the most relevant needs, while the least important were related to comfort and having support structures or systems. Most of the studies were conducted in Asia and North America revealing differences in the order of importance assigned to each necessity. Certain sociodemographic and cultural characteristics impact upon how family members rank their needs; this also occurs with the nature of the most important needs for the family and the factors determining their prioritization. Conclusion. The articles included in this review mention the frequent interaction with the family and their holistic view of the person beyond the illness, determine that nurses are the most appropriate professionals to know and satisfy the family needs of critical patients.

Objetivo. Identificar as necessidades mais importantes para os familiares do paciente crítico adulto descritas na literatura conforme às dimensões estabelecidas no "Critical Care Family Needs Inventory" (CCFNI) de Molter & Leske. Metodologia.Revisou-se a literatura na qual se utilizou o instrumento CCFNI. As bases de dados empregadas foram: Pubmed, CINAHL, Proquest Nursing & Allied Health Source, Proquest Psychology Journals, LILACS, Science Direct, Ovid SP, PsyicINFO, e Scielo. Dentro dos limites da busca se tiveram: pacientes adultos, artigos em idioma inglês e espanhol, com resumo e texto completo disponível e que tivessem sido publicados desde o ano 2003 a junho de 2013, foram incluídos 15 artigos. Resultados. A esperança da família nos resultados desejados e a comunicação sincera com o pessoal de saúde resultaram ser as necessidades mais relevantes enquanto as menos importantes se relacionaram com a comodidade e o contar com estruturas ou sistemas apoio. A maior parte dos estudos foram realizados na Ásia e na América do Norte observando-se diferenças na ordem de importância atribuído a cada necessidade. Determinadas características sócio-demográficas e culturais influem no modo em que os familiares hierarquizam suas necessidades e dada a natureza das necessidades mais importantes para a família e os fatores que determinam sua priorização. Conclusão. Os artigos inclusos nesta revisão falam da frequente interação com a família e sua visão holística da pessoa além da doença, determinam que a enfermeira seja a profissional mais idónea para conhecer e satisfazer as necessidades familiares do paciente crítico.