Determining the needs of relatives of patients with a COVID-19 diagnosis in the intensive care unit

Abstract

Background

The precautions taken in the intensive care unit (ICU) during the COVID-19 pandemic have caused a change in the needs of relatives of patients.

Objective

This research was conducted to determine the needs of relatives of ICU patients diagnosed with COVID-19.

Methods

The sample of this cross-sectional study consisted of 68 relatives of patients treated with COVID-19 in the ICU. Data were collected with a “Patient Relatives Information Form”, a “Factors Affecting the Needs of the Relatives of Patients in the Intensive Care Unit Form”, and the Critical Care Family Needs Inventory (CCFNI). A multivariate and univariate general linear model was used to determine the factors affecting the CCFNI total and subscale scores. Higher CCFNI scores are indicative of higher family need.

Results

The assurance (3.5 ± 0.4), information (3.4 ± 0.5), proximity (3.0 ± 0.6), comfort (2.8 ± 0.6), and support (2.7 ± 0.5) dimensions were important needs of relatives of patients hospitalised in the ICU. There was a weak negative correlation between participants' ages and CCFNI scores (p = 0.041). According to the univariate general linear model, significant difference was found between the total CCFNI scores (p = 0.032; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.68–3.03), based on multivariate general linear model proximity scores (p = 0.000; 95% CI: 2.49–2.91), and support scores (p = 0.029; 95% CI: 2.26–2.68) and the effect of ICU visit restrictions on relatives’ anxiety. Additionally, based on the multivariate general linear model, significant difference was found between the assurance scores and the presence of people who provided support to avoid disruption of responsibilities at home (p = 0.025; 95% CI: 3.30–3.54) and between the proximity scores and the expectations of intensive care nurses (p = 0.028; 95% CI: 2.83–3.59).

Conclusion

This study showed that relatives of ICU patients had high levels of needs. Relatives had high needs for assurance and information, whereas their needs for comfort and support were low. As the age of patients’ relatives increased, their levels of needs decreased. Relatives of the patients who received support to help with their obligations at home had increased assurance needs, and those who had anxiety about the ICU visit restrictions had increased proximity and support needs.