Effectiveness trial of an intensive communication structure for families of long-stay ICU patients.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Formal family meetings have been recommended as a useful approach to assist in goal setting, facilitate decision making, and reduce use of ineffective resources in the ICU. We examined patient outcomes before and after implementation of an intensive communication system (ICS) to test the effect of regular, structured formal family meetings on patient outcomes among long-stay ICU patients.

Methods

One hundred thirty-five patients receiving usual care and communication were enrolled as the control group, followed by enrollment of intervention patients (n = 346), from five ICUs. The ICS included a family meeting within 5 days of ICU admission and weekly thereafter. Each meeting discussed medical update, values and preferences, and goals of care; treatment plan; and m

SUBMITTER: Daly BJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2998207 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature