Pilot Study of a Family Support Program to Improve Communication and Emotional Support for Families of Critically Ill Patients with Respiratory Failure

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating a program aimed at improving fair communication and emotional support for families of critically ill patients with acute respiratory failure. This pilot randomized trial focuses on assessing how feasible and acceptable the program is, along with understanding participant experiences. The study involves critically ill patients on invasive mechanical ventilation and their primary surrogate decision makers, ICU support counselors, and ICU care teams including physicians, nurses, and social workers. The study compares two groups one receiving the Family Perspective Program that includes regular meetings with trained ICU support counselors who provide culturally competent emotional and spiritual support and prepare reports summarizing family perspectives, and the other receiving usual care with standard meetings between families and the ICU care team. Both groups complete questionnaires, and meetings may be audio recorded and followed by optional interviews. Participants will be involved in chart reviews, questionnaires, meetings, and optional audio recordings and interviews. The study measures feasibility of implementing the program and collecting data from families, counselors, and care teams over six months. The research team monitors perceptions of the programs feasibility among ICU support counselors and care team members while participants receive regular support during their ICU stay.

The Family Perspectives Project Pilot Trial