Self-Perceived Needs Of Adult Jordanian Patients In ICU

The primary purpose of this study was to identify the self-perceived needs of adult Jordanian family members who have a family member admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU). The second purpose was to explore whether or not the identified needs were being met, and third, to investigate who were the most likely persons, identified by the family members, to meet those needs. This descriptive, exploratory study was based on crisis theory (Aguilera & Messick, 1982) with a convenience sample of 139 family members of 85 critically ill patients. Family members completed two instruments: the Critical Care Family Needs Inventory (CCFNI), and the Needs Met Inventory (NMI) version2. In addition, family members completed a Demographic Data Questionnaire. The 10 most important needs identified by adult Jordanian family members were under the assurance and information subscales with a mean score of at least 3.59. The need "to be assured that the best care possible is being given to the patient" under the assurance subscale had the highest mean score of 3.97 on the CCFNI. The 10 least important needs were under the support and comfort subscales.