Effect of Palliative Care-Led Meetings for Families of Patients With Chronic Critical Illness: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

ABSTRACT:

Importance

Family caregivers of patients with chronic critical illness experience significant psychological distress.

Objective

To determine whether family informational and emotional support meetings led by palliative care clinicians improve family anxiety and depression.

Design, setting, and participants

A multicenter randomized clinical trial conducted from October 2010 through November 2014 in 4 medical intensive care units (ICUs). Adult patients (aged ≥21 years) requiring 7 days of mechanical ventilation were randomized and their family surrogate decision makers were enrolled in the study. Observers were blinded to group allocation for the measurement of the primary outcomes.

Interventions

At least 2 structured family meetings led by palliative care specia

SUBMITTER: Carson SS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5538801 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature