Effects of the Family Needs Response Program on Stress and Satisfaction Among Family of Critically Ill Patients
Keywords:
Needs of families of critically ill patients, Stress, Satisfaction with care in the intensive care unit, Family Members of Critically Ill PatientsAbstract
This quasi-experimental study investigated the effects of a family needs–response program on stress and satisfaction among family members of critically ill patients. The sample comprised 52 family members of patients admitted to the medical intensive care units of two hospitals in Ratchaburi Province. Participants were purposively selected and equally allocated to two groups, with 26 assigned to the control group and 26 to the intervention group. The research instruments consisted of (1) the family needs–response program, (2) an information handbook for families of ICU patients, (3) the Critical Care Family Needs Inventory (CCFNI), (4) a family stress assessment form, and (5) the Family Satisfaction in the Intensive Care Unit questionnaire (FS-ICU 24). Data were collected through self-administered questionnaires and analyzed by using descriptive statistics, the Mann–Whitney U test, the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and the independent-samples t-test. The results revealed that stress levels in the intervention group after the program were significantly lower than before the intervention (p < .001). Compared with the control group, the intervention group reported significantly lower stress scores (p < .05) and higher satisfaction with ICU care (p < .001). These findings demonstrate that the family needs–response program is effective in reducing stress and enhancing family satisfaction with ICU care. The program offers a practical framework for family-centered care by addressing family needs, thereby alleviating stress and enhancing satisfaction of care among family members of critically ill patients.
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