Enferm Intensiva (Engl Ed). 2025 Oct-Dec;36(4):500569. Revista: 10.1016/j.enfie.2025.500569.

BACKGROUND: Relatives of intensive care units (ICUs) patients often experience high levels of anxiety, which can impact their resilience and satisfaction with care. This randomized controlled trial investigates the effectiveness of need-based educational interventions on reducing anxiety and enhancing resilience and satisfaction among relatives of ICU patients, aiming to provide evidence for improved support and care in critical care settings.

METHODS: A randomized controlled trial was conducted at Namazi Hospital, Iran, involving family members of ICU patients. Participants were assigned to intervention (n=20) and control groups (n=20) based on specific criteria. The intervention included personalized educational sessions and telephone support for seven days. Data analyzed with SPSS-26 software, focusing on Beck’s Anxiety Inventory-II (BAI), the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), and the Family Satisfaction in the Intensive Care Unit (FS-ICU).

RESULTS: The study involved 40 participants, with one withdrawal from the case group. Baseline characteristics revealed no significant age differences between the intervention group (mean age 39.3 years) and control group (mean age 37.9 years). However, by day seven post-intervention, anxiety scores significantly decreased in the intervention group compared to the control group (p<0.001). While resilience scores did not differ significantly, the intervention group showed a gradual increase. Additionally, satisfaction levels were significantly higher in the intervention group by day seven (p=0.004).

CONCLUSION: Need-based educational interventions significantly reduced anxiety and increased satisfaction among ICU patients’ relatives, highlighting their potential benefits, though resilience levels showed no significant change; further research is recommended.

PubMed:41276406 | Revista:10.1016/j.enfie.2025.500569