OBJECTIVE: To identify the needs of family members of patient admitted to an intensive care unit. METHODS: A sample of 39 family members participated in the study. Data were collected with a modified form of the Critical Care Family Need Inventory. RESULTS: The most frequent needs reported by family members were: to be certain that their loved ones were receiving the best treatment (89.7%), to receive concrete information about the progress of their relatives (84.6%), to speak with the physician everyday (79.5%), and to have restrooms and telephones close to the waiting room (56.4%). CONCLUSION: Beyond providing quality care to critical care patients, nursing staff must be sensitive to the needs of patients' family members as well.
Professional-family relations; Needs assessment; Nursing care; Intensive care units
