Family Needs of Trauma Patients in Emergency Departments: A Comparative Study of Families’ and Nurses’ Perspectives

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to compare the needs of the families of trauma patients admitted to the emergency departments (EDs) from the perspective of families and nurses.

Design: This study is a descriptive-analytical, cross-sectional study.

Setting: The study was conducted on trauma patients with non-acute injury with triage level 3, 4 and 5 in the EDs of seven Medical and Educational hospitals in Mazandaran (North of Iran).

Main outcome measures: The data collection instruments included a demographic information questionnaire and the Critical Care Family Needs Inventory Emergency Department (CCFNIED. Data analysis was performed using descriptive and inferential statistics (chi-square, independent t-test, and Mann-Whitney U test).

Results: The average age is 37.90 ± 11.76 for the family members of trauma patients and 33.20 ± 6.27 for the nurses. The needs related to the communication and participation dimensions, such as talking to the physician (Mean= 3.42) and knowing about the expertise of staff caring for your relative (Mean= 3.41) received the highest scores from the perspective of family members. In addition, the needs related to the communication and comfort dimensions such as talking to the physician (Mean= 3.41), to be treated as an individual (Mean= 3.40) received the highest score from the perspective of the nurses.  The mean scores of the family members' needs from the perspectives of family members and nurses do not differ significantly, although the scores of the needs of family members from the perspective of family members are higher (p = 0.336).

Conclusions: Considering that the needs related to the communication dimension are considered important from the perspective of both families and nurses, therefore, it is suggested to do the necessary planning in this regard.