Determinants of met and unmet needs of family members with critically ill patients in the critical care unit – Kenyatta National Hospital.

Abstract

Background: When a patient is admitted to the Critical Care Unit (CCU), it is always looked at as a time of intense difficulty by the family members since most patients have life threatening conditions. Within this period the family endures a plethora of issues, mainly related to perception of information, proximity, support, assurance and comfort. Assessing the determinants that cause these experiences and knowing if they are unmet or met, strengthens familial bonds and therefore their ability to interact with and or support their critically ill patient, reducing Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) commonly seen with family members with patients in CCU. Within the CCU KNH activities are quite many and this makes the staff busy most times, which can make the family member not to receive the adequate support needed at this critical period. Broad objective: To assess the determinants of met and unmet needs of family members of critically ill patients receiving care at CCU KNH. Methodology: A descriptive cross sectional study was done. The sample size for the study was 69 patients’ family members identified using convenient sampling method. A semi structured researcher administered questionnaire was used to collect data that related to sociodemographic data, met and unmet needs and their determinants. Data analysis was performed using SPSS. Descriptive statistics was used to examine the distribution of variables and statistical significance measured using chi square. Descriptive statistics was presented using frequency tables, percentages in order to get an insight into mean average, standard deviation frequency distribution and percentages of the collected data on the study variables. Ethical approval was obtained from KNH-UON ERC committee, KNH research and the CCU KNH head of Department. Results: According to the respondents, the top on the list of needs perceived to have been met were related to the dimensions of support followed by information. This was attributed to the visiting hours staring on time (41.8%) and being able to frequently see the patients (28.1%) as reported by the family members. On the unmet needs, the leading on the list was also on the dimension of support at 97.0% and 95.5%. bivariate analysis, the associations and mean difference to the unmet dimensions according to socio demographic characteristics of the family members of CCU patients. Female had the highest unmet needs as a result of their high numbers. No statisticalxiii difference (P>0.05) was found between the genders in all the dimensions except rank eight (to have good food available in the hospital) with the overall percentage of this unmet need being 75.8% and female likely to be the most affected. On the mean difference between the unmet needs and age, statistical difference (P<0.01) was found in the dimensions (to have a washroom near the waiting room, to get specific numbers to call at the hospital when unable to visit. No significance was recorded between the experience of having visited the CCU and the unmet needs. Expected outcome: The study findings from this research will help KNH CCUs to formulate tools and interventions to cater for the identified unmet needs of family members.