Determining the Needs of the Family Members who Have Inpatients in the Intensive Care Unit

INTRODUCTION: Background: Theaim of this study is to determine needs of family members who have inpatients at intensive care unit.
METHODS: Methods: The research was conducted at intensive care units in three public hospitals in province of Antalya between the dates of 01.10.2016 and 28.02.2017. Only one family member of each inpatient was evaluated, and research sample was formed by 346 family members. In the research data was gathered with questionnaire formed by researcher and “Critical Care Family Needs Inventory”.
RESULTS: Results: In the research average age of family members was 40.52 ± 12.36, and 50.9% of the family members are male, 70.5% the family members are married and 96.2% have social security. The Critical Care Family Needs Inventory Score was 140.53 ± 17.53. Point Averages of Sub-scale were determined as Comfort (19.99 ± 3.33), Proximity (26.13 ± 2.24), Confidence (19.23 ± 1.19), Information (32.64 ± 3.1) and Support (42.54 ± 7.58). In the study, 61.8% of family members stayed in their own homes as accommodation during intensive care, 71.6% stated that they used their own or their relatives’ home as the place where they met their eating and drinking needs and 49.1% stated that they used hospital canteen.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Conclusion: According to the results of the research, the first priority needs of the family members who are hospitalized in intensive care units are to feel that their patients are safe. The majority of family members prefer the home environment for their physical needs.