Family Involvement in the Intensive Care Unit A Prospective Study on Effects on Sedation, Delirium, Ventilator Use, and Length of Stay

What this Trial Is About

This research aims to explore how spending time with family members affects patients treated in a tertiary intensive care unit (ICU). It focuses on whether increased family involvement can reduce the need for sedative medications, lower the occurrence of delirium, decrease the number of days on a ventilator, and shorten the length of ICU stays. The study examines these patient outcomes in a real-world ICU setting. Participants are adult ICU patients who have at least one family member actively involved in their care during their ICU stay. The study observes these patients prospectively, monitoring how time spent with relatives may influence sedation needs and other clinical outcomes. No specific treatment interventions are given, as this is an observational cohort study. During the study, each patient's sedative dose is recorded daily for up to the first four weeks in the ICU. Researchers will also assess delirium, ventilator usage, and length of ICU stay. Participation involves monitoring these health measures and family involvement without changing standard care. The study includes adult patients aged 18 and older and continues throughout their ICU admission as long as they remain eligible.

Family Involvement in ICU