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Authors: Fahd Dibsh, Bander Gohal, Hind Kherat
Keywords: family, nurse, communication, critical care
Abstract: Objective: Family is an important aspect of the health care system and their role cannot be eliminated. In critical care units, the patient often cannot effectively communicate with care providers. Nurses are the most health workers to engage with the family in these departments. Thus, this study is conducted to understand the perception of nurses in critical care units about the miscommunication issues with family. Methodology: 20 nurses from three different hospitals in Saudi Arabia were interviewed using a semi-structured method. Findings: By analyzing the data using the constant comparative method, several subthemes were grouped under four main themes in which individual factors include emotions, background, experience, language, general knowledge, and confidence. The organizational factors involve the role of nurses and the general policy of the hospitals as the communicational barriers. Information distribution, seeking and access were grouped under the information process theme. Further, the study found some aspects related to social factors such as expectations, cultural issues, anticipations, and awareness.