Multidisciplinary healthcare Professionals' attitudes towards family engagement in the adult intensive care unit

Objectives: Family engagement in the intensive care unit (ICU) is a crucial aspect of healthcare delivery, yet it remains an inconsistent practice and an understudied area of healthcare for adult patients in the ICU. This study aimed to explore the attitudes of healthcare professionals (e.g., registered nurses (RNs), physicians, pharmacists, respiratory therapists, social workers, and dietitians) on family engagement in the adult ICU and to elucidate factors that impact these attitudes.

Methods: We used descriptive cross-sectional analysis to explore the attitudes of a sample of 90 healthcare professionals toward family engagement in the ICU for adult patients. Data were collected using the Families' Importance in Nursing Care-Nurses' Attitudes (FINC-NA) questionnaire. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression.

Main outcome measures: Healthcare professionals' attitudes towards family engagement in the ICU varied across different professional roles and were associated with years of experience. Results demonstrated that physicians had the highest positive attitude score towards family engagement on the total attitude scale and the family as a resource.

Implications to nursing practice: Understanding the attitudes of healthcare professionals is a crucial step toward developing evidence-based interventions that can facilitate family engagement in care for adult patients in the ICU. Cultivating a partnership culture with patients' families in the ICU is crucial, but interventions are needed to enhance nurses' and other healthcare professionals' attitudes toward family engagement. Specialized training, resources, and institutional policies supporting nurses and other providers in family care are essential to promote positive attitudes toward family engagement. A collective effort is required to change the culture and practice of family engagement by implementing evidence-based policies and guidelines. The study's findings provided significant insights that may shape and improve healthcare practice, particularly in the ICU.