Influence on Depression, Anxiety, and Satisfaction of the Relatives' Visit to Intensive Care Units prior to Hospital Admission for Elective Cardiac Surgery: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Abstract

Intensive care units (ICUs) may produce stress on the relatives of patients that have long-term physiological andpsychological implications. Objectives. &is study aimed to evaluate the effects of the relatives´ visit prior to hospital admission(s) onthe patient’s scheduled cardiac surgery regarding depression, anxiety, and satisfaction of the patient’s family in an ICU. Methods. Arandomized clinical trial [NCT03605420] was carried out according to the CONSORTcriteria. &irty-eight relatives of ICU patientswere recruited at an ICU and randomized into study groups. Experimental group participants (n = 19) consisted of relatives whoreceived 1 ICU visit prior to the patient’s admission. Control group participants (n = 19) consisted of patients’ relatives who receivedstandard care alone. A self-report test battery, including the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) and the Hospital Anxiety andDepression Scale (HADS), was completed by the patient’s relative prior to the patient’s ICU admission and again three and 90 daysafter ICU discharge. Furthermore, the Family Satisfaction with Care in the Intensive Care Unit (FS-ICU) and Critical Care FamilyNeeds Inventory (CCFNI) were administered to help determine the respondents’ satisfaction three days after the patient’s ICUdischarge. Results. Statistically significant differences in FS-ICU results were found between control and experimental groups; nostatistically significant differences were found in IES-R, HADS, and CCFNI results. &us, members in the control group were moresatisfied with the time elapsed to raise their concerns (p = 0.005), emotional support provided (p = 0.020), quality of care(p = 0.035), opportunities to express concerns and ask questions (p = 0.005), and general satisfaction with the ICU’s decision-making (p = 0.003). Conclusions. Relatives’ satisfaction during patients’ ICU admission may be impaired after their prior visit to thehospital admission. Relative’s anxiety and depression scores did not seem to be significantly affected. Relatives´ visit prior to electivecardiac surgery hospital admission impaired their satisfaction in an ICU and may not be advisable for healthcare practice.HindawiInternational Journal of Clinical PracticeVolume 2022, Article ID 1746782, 12 pageshttps://doi.org/10.1155/2022/1746782