Intensive care professionals' perceptions of the quality of counselling provided in the ICU: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: Intensive care professionals (ICPs) have a key role in counselling adult intensive care unit (ICU) patients and their family members. The counselling provided to ICU patients and their family members can be described based on the content, implementation, benefits, and resources. Aims: The study had two specific aims: first, to assess ICPs' perceptions of the quality of counselling provided to ICU patients and their family members; and second, to explore which factors ICPs feel is associated with the quality of counselling. Study Design: A cross-sectional survey of ICPs working in adult ICUs in Finnish university hospitals. Data were collected using the Counselling Quality Instrument. The data were analysed by descriptive statistics and chi-square and t-test statistical methods. Results: A total of 182 ICPs returned the questionnaire, reflecting a response rate of 18.6%. Most of the respondents were nurses (97%) and the mean age was 42 years. The ICPs reported having adequate time for patient- (77%) and family-centered (73%) counselling, but only 47% felt that their units had the appropriate facilities. There were statistically significant differences between patient- and family-centered counselling and the ICP's self-assessed competence (p