Family satisfaction with quality of care in the intensive care unit at Wardha in central India: A cross sectional study

Background: Family member's views are crucial in assessing the quality of intensive care unit (ICU) care. This study had been planned to assess satisfaction of family members with the quality of healthcare provided in ICU, to look into potential follow-up needs of the patients' relatives and to evaluate contribution of each domain in the care providing facilities of ICU. Method - A validated template of questions (Hindi version of questionnaires which were used in the studies published previously) was distributed amongst the family members of patients who are admitted to hospital in the Medicine ICU of a tertiary care hospital at Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Wardha. The results were then analyzed statistically. Results: Out of 300 family members enrolled 67.7% were male. 27.7% responders were having literacy up to secondary education. 88% of the responders were overall satisfied with the empathetic behavior of the nurses on duty. 80.7% were satisfied that doctors duly cleared the doubts regarding the prognosis of the patient and were timely addressed on the progress in the treatment of the patient. The concluded results were found significantly associated p = 0.001. Conclusion: This study highlights about key role in assessing the satisfaction and the level of knowledge, attitude and practices of families of the patients in context of the degree of the health care provided within the Medicine ICU.