Association Between Family Needs Perception and Satisfaction in Relation to Used ICU Visiting Policy

: Background : Families of critically ill patients experience emotional turmoil due to fear, disrupted lives, future worries, and the stressful ICU environment. They crave clear information, reassurance, open communication, and close proximity to their loved ones. Traditional, rigid ICU visitation, often based on outdated concerns, can hinder care, stress patients, and exhaust families. Purpose : To explore the association between family needs perception and satisfaction in relation to used ICU visiting policy. Design : A correlation descriptive research design was utilized. Sampling : A convenience sample of 100 caregiver family members were selected. Setting : This study was conducted at the intensive care units of Beni-Suef University Hospital. Instruments : Two instruments of data collection were used. Assessment of critically ill patients’ family needs using CCFNI, and family satisfaction questionnaire were involved Results : A strong negative correlation between total family satisfaction score and critical care family needs for support (p=0.002), assurance (p=0.001), proximality (p=0.001), and information (p<0.001). While a moderate negative was found, the need for comfort (p=0.05). The total CCFNI score had a strong negative correlation with family satisfaction score (p=0.002). Conclusion : More than half of studied family caregivers had poor family satisfaction. Also, the proximality need was the higher importance need ranked followed by information, assurance, support, and finally comfort need. General characteristics of family may play a subordinate role. Recommendations: Visiting policy may affect the level of critical care family satisfaction. A further study on the effect of using interdisciplinary family meetings with patients and health care providers.