Encuesta a familiares de pacientes internados en unidades de cuidados críticos sobre sus creencias religiosas, su opinión sobre cuidados de fin de vida y sus preferencias de horarios de visita

Abstract

ObjectiveTo learn about the religious beliefs, opinion about end-of-life care and policies of visiting hours of relatives of patients hospitalized in Intensive Care Units (ICU). MethodsCross-sectional study. ICUs of 5 Hospitals (three private University centres and two public centres). Relatives of patients admitted to the ICU were surveyed in the waiting room from 2017 to 2018. The main interest variables were religious beliefs (in God, miracles and/or life after death). Position on limitation of therapeutic effort (LTE) in terminal situations and euthanasia, feelings towards death and illness, preferences about visiting hours (open-door versus closed units), impact on relatives and the recovery of the patient (overload / obligation, emotional support and tranquility). Characteristics of the surveyed population (age, level of education, relationship to the patient). Results823 surveys were conducted. A high prevalence of believers was observed (78%),which was associated with refusal of LTE and euthanasia. Of the subjects, 78% prefer long visiting hours, and only 15% consider that it overloads the companion or causes obligation. The overall level of satisfaction was higher among respondents whose relatives were hospitalized in an open-door ICU (90% vs. 66%, p-value<0,001). ConclusionsReligious beliefs must be taken into account when proposing end-of-life care in critical patients due to their potential part in the decision-making process. Family engagement in open-door units can be an important tool to improve satisfaction with care during hospitalization.