Study reveals surprising views on ICU

The families of intensive care patients who do not survive are often more satisfied with the care provided than the relatives of those who do, according to US study findings.

The families of intensive care patients who do not survive are often more satisfied with the care provided than the relatives of those who do, according to US study findings.

Researchers surveyed 539 families of patients who spent four to eight weeks in ICU, of whom half had died.

'We had assumed that families of dying patients would be less satisfied with their ICU experience,' the authors said. 'So, we were initially surprised to find that the opposite was true.'

They found the families of survivors and non-survivors were equally satisfied with the level of treatment provided but the relations of non-survivors reported better aspects of care relating to emotional support and willingness to answer questions.

'The desire for information and emotional support is a common theme among all ICU families, regardless of whether a patient lives or dies,' the authors said in an article due to be published in the journal Chest.