Family Needs of ICU Patients Based on the Perceptions of Nurses and Patient’s Families

Objective: The objective of this study is to assess the needs of ICU patients' families based on the perceptions of both nurses and family members, focusing on five domains: information, certainty, support, closeness, and comfort. Theoretical Framework: This study is grounded in Maslow's hierarchy of needs and critical care family needs theory, framing family needs as fundamental human requirements that, when met, contribute to reduced stress, enhanced coping, and improved patient-family well-being in the stressful ICU environment. Method: This study employed a descriptive, cross-sectional design. A convenience sample of 100 respondents was recruited, consisting of 27 ICU nurses and 73 family members. nclusion criteria for family members included being an adult (≥18 years), a first-degree relative of the patient (e.g., spouse, parent, child), and having spent at least 24 hours with the patient in the ICU. Nurses were included if they had at least six months of experience working in the ICU. Data were collected using structured questionnaires administered to both groups of participants. The questionnaire, adapted from the Critical Care Family Needs Inventory (CCFNI), comprised Likert-scale items assessing the perceived importance of various family needs within the ICU, categorized into dimensions such as assurance, information, proximity, support, and comfort. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations) to summarize the demographic characteristics and the perceived importance of family needs. Independent t-tests were used to compare the mean scores between nurses and family members on each dimension of family needs. A p-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results and Discussion: Findings indicated that family members prioritized certainty (M = 3.59), followed closely by information (M = 3.55) and support (M = 3.48). In contrast, nurses rated these needs lower, with certainty at (M = 3.08) and support at (M = 2.97). Statistical analysis revealed significant differences in perceptions between the two groups regarding the need for certainty, support, and closeness (p-value < 0.001), while no significant difference was found in the domains of information and comfort. Nurses and family members differed significantly in their perceptions of the importance of certainty and support, while showing similar perspectives on the need for information and comfort, highlighting potential areas for targeted interventions to improve family-centered care in the ICU. Research Implications: The study highlights a substantial gap in understanding the needs of ICU patients' families between nurses and family members. Addressing these differences is crucial for improving communication and support strategies, ultimately enhancing the quality of care provided to patients and their families in critical settings Originality/Value: This study uniquely compares ICU family needs as perceived by nurses and family members in an Indonesian hospital, revealing that nurses underestimate the importance of assurance and support. This informs targeted interventions like communication training to bridge this perceptual gap and improve family-centered care.