Abstract

Background: Following the hospitalization of a family member in the ICU, new needs are created in the family members, and if these requirements are not met, a lot of stress and anxiety is created in the members and reduces their ability to adapt to the crisis.

Aims and Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the needs of caregivers of hospitalized patients in special educational centers of Hamedan University of Medical Sciences.

Materials and Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 333 families of patients hospitalized in intensive care units (ICU) of Hamedan’s educational-therapeutic centers were selected through convenience sampling. The data collection tool was a questionnaire for demographic information and a 45-item questionnaire on the needs of the patients in the ICU (CCFNI) in five dimensions (support, comfort, information, proximity, and confidence), which was scored by Likert Scale and Total Score of the questionnaire is between 1 and 180. The questionnaires were completed by caregivers (spouse, child, grandchild, parents, brother or sister, bride, or groom). Data were analyzed using SPSS16 software and using descriptive and analytical statistics (Chi-square, t-test, ANOVA, and regression).

Results: The mean score of the questionnaire of health providers’ needs was 134.33 ± 16.43 and the caregivers felt the most important need for the patient’s family in terms of support (44.5 ± 62.89), and then, the highest scores were, respectively, obtained by the dimensions, information (27.3 ± 64.53), reliability (24.3 ± 33.75), proximity (21.3 ± 18.12), and comfort (17.58 ± 2.83). Furthermore, there was a significant correlation in measuring the dimensions of a questionnaire with the demographic and social characteristics between income status and comfort (P = 0.003), the status of education with the confidence (P = 0.002) and support (P = 0.034), type of illness (P = 0.042), and support (P = 0.05).

Conclusion: One of the main responsibilities of the health system, along with patient care, is to pay attention and support the family members of the patients, which leads to their satisfaction and the advancement of family-oriented care.

Key words: Need; Caregiver; Intensive Care Unit