Abstract
Family members of intensive care unit patients are often experience high anxiety and require more information about the patients. However, most Taiwanese healthcare institutions currently face manpower shortages due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, the task of providing additional services to meet family members’ needs and relieve their stress was deferred by some healthcare institutions. The self-service system, known to be effective and efficient in other industries, was recommended for use in the healthcare industry. This study aims to explore an intensive care unit self-service system (ICU-SSS) designed for the family members of ICU patients. This study investigates the feasibility of the system by following a mixed method approach, including qualitative interviews and a quantitative survey. Firstly, interviews with five family members and five ICU staff members of a case hospital were conducted to identify the need to develop an ICU-SSS for the family member. Secondly, a survey was completed by 30 family members to evaluate the system. The interview results reveal nine categories of family members’ needs and the survey results show that the ICU family members assigned acceptable scores to all the ICU-SSS functions, except the importance of “Logistical information”. Based on these findings, the scientific and practical implications are discussed.
Highlights
IntroductionOpen visitation has been highly recommended by critical care groups, more than 70% of Intensive Care Units (ICUs) in hospitals have restrictive visitation policies [1–3]
This study aimed to interview Intensive Care Units (ICUs) patients’ family members in a case hospital to develop an intensive care unit selfservice system (ICU-SSS) and survey their experience to evaluate the system to identify areas for further improvement
Due to the patient’s limited ability to communicate, family members are an integral part of the treatment process and the patient’s safety in the ICU
Summary
Open visitation has been highly recommended by critical care groups, more than 70% of Intensive Care Units (ICUs) in hospitals have restrictive visitation policies [1–3]. Because Asia is a collectivist rather than an individualistic society [4], Asian patients, in particular, rely on family members’ support. Religion plays an important role in the Asian population. Confucius’s teachings further emphasize the value of family and the obligation of each member of the family to support the others [5,6]. Family members play a key role when critical decisions regarding severely ill patients must be made [7], and their needs must be considered and satisfied [8]. Relevant information for the certificate of diagnosis Family Member F-A F-B Hospice care/hospice ward/pain control, issues of life continuation, death symptoms and care, article sharing
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