Assessing the Quality of Education and Information Delivery to Family Members of Patients with Moderate to Severe Traumatic Brain Injury

摘要

Background: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is devastating to patients and their family members who are left trying to understand and cope with this diagnosis. This is especially true for family members of patients with TBI who are treated in the intensive care unit (ICU), which presents additional challenges. Family members are often present at the bedside and desire information about the patient and diagnosis. However, this can be a stressful event for family members as they attempt to understand the complexities of TBI. This DNP project analyzed the quality of education and information delivery from ICU staff members to family members of patients with moderate to severe TBI and used the findings to create a standardized education program for future implementation.udMethods: A mixed-model, descriptive design with both qualitative and quantitative components was used to conduct a needs assessment at an urban, Level II trauma center within the ICU. Patients with moderate to severe TBI, as measured as Glasgow Coma Scale of 12 or less, were selected. From these patients, family members and close friends who were 18 years of age and older were asked to complete surveys and interviews about their experiences with education and information delivery in the ICU. ICU staff nurses also completed surveys about their opinions of delivering education and information to family members.udResults: Over a time period of 5 months, 6 patients who met criteria were selected, and 5 family members completed surveys and interviews. Of the 56 staff nurses who received surveys, 17 participated in the surveys. Based on quantitative data, family members did not demonstrate a need for improvement in the method of education and information delivery, but provided a rich description of many needed improvements through qualitative responses. On the other hand, staff nurses reported dissatisfaction in current method of education and information delivery in all aspects except for one. udConclusion: Based on the results, the TBI Family Education Model was developed as an education tool that can be implemented in the future to standardize education and information delivery to family members of patients with moderate to severe TBI.