Family Involvement in ICU

Family Involvement in the Intensive Care Unit: a Prospective Cohort Study Exploring Its Effects on Sedation Dosages, Delirium, Ventilator-Free Days, and Length of Stay.

The aim of this prospective cohort study was to investigate the effect of the time spent with relatives of patients treated in a tertiary intensive care unit on patient outcomes.

The main question it aimed to answer was:

Does spending more time with relatives of patients in intensive care result in lower sedative agent requirements? Does spending more time with relatives of patients in intensive care result in less delirium, fewer ventilator days, and shorter ICU stays?

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients aged 18 and over.
• Patients with at least one family member actively involved in the care process in the ICU.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with pre-existing cognitive impairment or dementia.
• Patients with severe traumatic brain injury.
• Patients with an expected mortality in the ICU of more than 80%.
• Absence of family members for patients admitted to the ICU.