Informational needs have been consistent described by evidence as one of the most important needs of ICU relatives. However, the amount and quality of information given by physicians generally are insufficient and in some countries there´re law issues that only allows them to deliver information.
Dear Cristobal Felipe Padilla Fortunatti,
The following are two studies conducted to investigate the relationship and communications of Intensive Care Unit nurses and patients families which may helpful in shedding light on the advantages and disadvantages of releasing information by the nurses:
1-Factors Affecting the Nurse-Patients’ Family Communication in Intensive Care Unit of Kerman: a Qualitative Study
Laleh Loghmani, 1 Fariba Borhani, 2 ,* and Abbas Abbaszadeh 3
J Caring Sci. 2014 Mar; 3(1): 67–82.
Abstract
Introduction: The communication between nurses and patients' families impacts patient well-being as well as the quality and outcome of nursing care, this study aimed to demonstrated the facilitators and barriers which influence the role of communication among Iranian nurses and families member in ICU.
Methods: This study is a qualitative study with content analysis. Participants were eight registered nurses and ten of patients’ families. Patients were admitted to the ICU of two large university hospitals in Kerman, Iran. We used non-structured interviews for data collection. All interviews were transcribed verbatim with a simultaneous, constant comparative analysis of the audio tapes.
Results: According to data analysis, facilitative factors between nurses and families' communication consisted of spiritual care, emotional support, Participation, notification and consultation and barriers that were misunderstandings regarding treatment, job and patient difficulties.
Conclusion: The findings led into the recognition of the important barriers and facilitators in communication between ICU team and the family of the patients. By identification of the barriers and facilitators of communication, establishing new rules and using creative methods in education and establishing the communication of ICU team especially using patient-based approach we can have effective communication.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4134163/
2-Giving information to family members of patients in the intensive care unit: Iranian nurses’ ethical approaches
Mansoureh A Farahani,1 Mina Gaeeni,2 Nooreddin Mohammadi,3 and Naima Seyedfatemi1
J Med Ethics Hist Med. 2014; 7: 9.
Abstract
Receiving information related to patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit is among the most important needs of the family members of such patients. When health care professionals should decide whether to be honest or to give hope, giving information becomes an ethical challenge
We conducted a research to study the ethical approaches of Iranian nurses to giving information to the family members of patients in the intensive care units. This research was conducted in the intensive care units of three teaching hospitals in Iran. It employed a qualitative approach involving semi-structured and in-depth interviews with a purposive sample of 12 nurses to identify the ethical approaches to giving information to family members of the intensive care unit patients. A conventional content analysis of the data produced two categories and five subcategories. The two categories were as follows: a) informational support, and b) emotional support. Informational support had 2 subcategories consisting of being honest in giving information, and providing complete and understandable information. Emotional support in giving information had 3 sub-categories consisting of gradual revelation, empathy and assurance. Findings of the study indicated that ethical approaches to giving information can be in the form of either informational support or emotional support, based on patients’ conditions and prognoses, their families’ emotional state, the necessity of providing a calm atmosphere in the ICU and the hospital, and other patients and their families’ peace. Findings of the present study can be used as a basis for further studies and for offering ethical guidelines in giving information to the families of patients hospitalized in the ICU.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4263385/
Hoping this will be helpful,
Rafik
Of course nurses should give education and information to patients' relatives.
Nurse sometimes, under the exucse of we dont have time, they dont do this role, actually giving information to families is one of the important roles the nurse should carry. The nurse should be up to date in her knowledge.
Considering the rules and regulations in the hospital, "some spcific issues" are only allowed to the spcialist to deliver to the family. but this is not excuse for nurses not provide plenty of information to families.
We should consider the family of the patients in critical care as "patients" because they are psychological tired. Even the public and the community will appreciate this input from nurses when it becomes as a common intervention.
As evidenced based answer, many studies found that families need inofrmation from nurses with high priority.
eg. are attached
Absolutely. In ICU there are times you only have 10 minutes to bond with the family before you ask them to consider donating their loved ones body parts. Where I worked in ICU/CCU/Trauma, the nurses were given the directive from the physicians to engage the family for donation and/or explain the breadth of a situation to a family. It is the most important service a nurse provides at the bedside in ICU. Honesty tempered with compassion allows the family to make an educated and least emotional decision regarding their loved one.
Another interest point of view related to power relationships in the ICU team is raised by Zaforteza et al. (2005).
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15680612
Totally recommended.
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