Family Needs in Critical Care
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The needs of the families of patients with a chronic illness who are in the Critical Care Unit
IRAS ID
210801
Contact name
Natalie Pattison
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Royal Marsden NHS FT
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 9 months, 1 days
Research summary
People with chronic illness/long-term consitions such as cardiovascular disease, stroke and cancer are living longer than in previous years and during their treatment for their illness often require support in the Critical Care Unit (CCU) (Department of Health, 2012). The current pressures on healthcare provision means that these patients may be discharged home as soon as their condition is stable even though they still have high care demands (Given et al, 2001; Urrutioechea, 2010). The consequence of this is that families of these patients are often required to assume the role of caregiver despite perhaps being unprepared. Research into this family burden, using quantitative methods such as the Critical Care Family Needs Inventory (Molter, 1979) and The Family Satisfaction – ICU (Heyland & Tranmer, 2001) has increased awareness, however little qualitative work exists, and development of interventions for family members has been called for (Paul & Rattray, 2008).
In a recent study we conducted examining the use of patient and family diaries in CCUs across the UK, the negative impact of a CCU admission on family members was highlighted and the need for exploration of unmet family needs suggested (O’Gara & Pattison, 2016). We thus wish to qualitatively explore family expression of need in CCU, using focus groups, and consequently use this data to develop a resource toolkit, with families, as a support mechanism for families of all patients with chronic illness in critical care.REC name
London - South East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/LO/0796
Date of REC Opinion
24 May 2017
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion