Study examines weekly meetings with families of long-stay intensive care unit patients
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 8 (HealthDay News) -- In long-stay intensive care unit (ICU) patients, regular discussions between family members and staff aren't associated with a shorter length of stay, according to research published in the December issue of Chest.
Barbara J. Daly, R.N., Ph.D., of Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, and colleagues analyzed data from 135 long-stay ICU patients who were receiving usual care and communication and 346 patients who received an intensive communication system intervention. The intervention provided weekly family meetings to discuss preferences, goals, and medical updates. The primary end point was length of stay.
The researchers found that both groups of patients had similar length of stay. The groups also had similar ICU mortality, duration of ventilation, treatment limitation orders, and tracheostomy or percutaneous gastronomy use. In patients who died or had a do-not-attempt-resuscitation order in place, prevalence of tracheostomy was lower in the intervention patients in medical ICUs.
"Even if the use of regular formal family meetings does not alter resource use in all settings, the literature is replete with evidence of other beneficial effects of providing families with time to sit in a quiet location and talk at some length about the patient's goals and preferences and to explore issues related to quality of life, and providing families with consistent support as they face difficult decisions," the authors conclude.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)