Family satisfaction with care provided to patients deceased in intensive care unit.

Abstract

Background & objective: Patient's family satisfaction is a crucial but often overlooked indicator of the quality of the intensive care unit (ICU). The goal was to assess how satisfied patients' families were with the treatment they received for terminally ill patients, where we worked with them to create a care plan.

Methods: The study was conducted in ICU at Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute and Research Center (PKLI & RC), Lahore, Pakistan which is a quaternary care center between December 1^st 2022 and April 30^th 2023. We used the Family Satisfaction in the Intensive Care Unit 24 (FS-ICU 24) questionnaire to interview the next of kin of patients who passed away in our ICU.

Results: Of the 330 patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) between December 1, 2022, and April 30, 2023, 42 patients (12.7%) passed away. Mean age was 46.8 ± 14.5 years, with 28 men (66.7%) and 14 females (33.3%). Mean length of ICU stay was 5.57 ± 5.84 day. On a scale of 1-5 (1 = very Dissatisfied; 5 = fully satisfied) the overall family's satisfaction score was 4.21 ± 0.52 with ICU consultants received a high satisfaction rating for informing families about their patients' conditions and involving them in the decision-making process.

Conclusion: The study showed involving family members in the care plan and helping them prepare for death not only helps them deal better but also makes them feel satisfied with the treatment they received in the intensive care unit, It makes them appreciate that they were able to participate in the decision-making process.