Needs of Families of Critically Ill Patients in Latin America: A Multicenter Study

ABSTRACT Background Care in ICUs is often focused on critically ill patients, leaving the needs of their families overlooked. In Latin America, it is necessary to gain insight into these needs for future standardised protocols focused on family‐centred care. Objective To determine the needs of family members of patients hospitalised in intensive care units (ICUs) in five Latin American countries: Colombia, Argentina, Mexico, Ecuador, and Peru. Methods Multicentre cross‐sectional descriptive observational study. The short version of the CCFNI scale (Critical Care Family Needs Inventory) was applied to identify the needs of families of critically ill patients. A total of 1843 family members were included. The statistical software Jamovi 2.3.28.0 was used for data analysis. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to present the results. The STROBE checklist for cross‐sectional studies was used in this study. Results Total of 1843 participants from five Latin American countries were analysed; 63.05% were women, and the median age was 44 years (IQR: 34–55). The overall median family‐needs score was 21 (IQR: 17–24). The greatest perceived needs were identified in the ‘Information and family satisfaction’ and ‘Perceived improvements’ dimensions, whereas lower levels of need were reported in ‘Proximity and safety’ and ‘Care provided by healthcare staff.’ Scores differed significantly by ICU type ( p < 0.001), being higher in surgical ICUs and lower in maternal ICUs. Participants who travelled less than 10 min to the hospital reported lower needs than those with longer travel times ( p = 0.005). Conclusion Families of critically ill patients in five Latin American countries reported prominent needs related to information and family satisfaction, as well as perceived improvements in care, with family‐needs scores varying according to ICU type and travel time to the hospital.

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Journal
Journal of Clinical Nursing
Published
2026-10-08
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.70546
Primary Topic
Family and Patient Care in Intensive Care Units
Type
article
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article

Needs of Families of Critically Ill Patients in Latin America: A Multicenter Study

Gladis Isabel Torres, David Andrade, Ligia María Rosado Alcocer, Diana Marcela Achury Saldaña et al.
Journal of Clinical Nursing
Family and Patient Care in Intensive Care Units
article

Needs of Families of Critically Ill Patients in Latin America: A Multicenter Study

Gladis Isabel Torres, David Andrade, Ligia María Rosado Alcocer, Diana Marcela Achury Saldaña, Herly Ruth Alvarado Romero, Edith Cavallo, Jhonatan Miguel Ortega Jaimes, Julio César Cadena-Estrada, Virginia Merino, Doraly Muñoz Acuña, Claudia Viviana Camacho Falla, María Cristina Cometto, Norma Ochoa, Andrea Mecchia, Sandra Rodríguez Colmenares, Luisa Fernanda Achury Beltrán, Marcia Andrea Quiñonez-Mora, Soledad Romano, Pilar Maria Buchanan, Paula González, Ana Cristina Ulloa, Katy Yolanda Ramirez Baquero, Sebastian Piermattei, Diana Yibi Martinez Galeano, Laura Beatriz Bongiovanni, Luisa Fernanda Alzate Zapata, Sandra Sonali Olvera, Monica Zurita, Tania Lizeth Jimenez Arias, Rocio Alonso, Marcelo Morales, Adriana Mariela Cruz
article en

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background Care in ICUs is often focused on critically ill patients, leaving the needs of their families overlooked. In Latin America, it is necessary to gain insight into these needs for future standardised protocols focused on family‐centred care. Objective To determine the needs of family members of patients hospitalised in intensive care units (ICUs) in five Latin American countries: Colombia, Argentina, Mexico, Ecuador, and Peru. Methods Multicentre cross‐sectional descriptive observational study. The short version of the CCFNI scale (Critical Care Family Needs Inventory) was applied to identify the needs of families of critically ill patients. A total of 1843 family members were included. The statistical software Jamovi 2.3.28.0 was used for data analysis. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to present the results. The STROBE checklist for cross‐sectional studies was used in this study. Results Total of 1843 participants from five Latin American countries were analysed; 63.05% were women, and the median age was 44 years (IQR: 34–55). The overall median family‐needs score was 21 (IQR: 17–24). The greatest perceived needs were identified in the ‘Information and family satisfaction’ and ‘Perceived improvements’ dimensions, whereas lower levels of need were reported in ‘Proximity and safety’ and ‘Care provided by healthcare staff.’ Scores differed significantly by ICU type ( p < 0.001), being higher in surgical ICUs and lower in maternal ICUs. Participants who travelled less than 10 min to the hospital reported lower needs than those with longer travel times ( p = 0.005). Conclusion Families of critically ill patients in five Latin American countries reported prominent needs related to information and family satisfaction, as well as perceived improvements in care, with family‐needs scores varying according to ICU type and travel time to the hospital.

Journal of Clinical Nursing
Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas ESPE (EC), National University of Tucumán (AR), Pontificia Universidad Javeriana (CO), Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires (AR), National University of the Northeast (AR), Universidad de los Llanos (CO), National University of Villa María (AR), Universidad Adventista del Plata (AR), Centro Científico Tecnológico - Nordeste (AR), Clínica Santa María (CO), Autonomous University of Yucatán (MX), Fundación Universitaria de Ciencias de la Salud (CO), Hospital de Especialidades (MX), Servicio Diabetología Hospital Córdoba (AR), Hospital Central de las Fuerzas Armadas (UY), Instituto de Investigación Médica Mercedes y Martín Ferreyra (AR), Hospital Privado (AR), Hospital Universitario San Ignacio (CO), Instituto Nacional de Cardiología (MX), Fundación Universitaria Sanitas (CO), Fundacion Allende (AR), Hospital Nacional Edgardo Rebagliati Martins (PE), Catholic University of Colombia (CO)
Openalex Percentile: Top 8%
Family and Patient Care in Intensive Care Units
DOISourceOpenAlex
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