Table 1.

ICU Nurse Focus Group Questions

In this context I am specifically defining prognosis as how a patient's illness and overall health is likely to evolve during this hospitalization and/or over the next few days to months.

Communication of prognosis

a) Who talks to patients and patient families about prognosis? How do they do it? Good points? Bad points?

b) What are the barriers to effective communication about patient prognosis in your ICU?

c) Would you like to see a change(s) in the way your unit handles communication about patient prognosis? How?

d) In your ICU, who do you think should be involved in discussions about patient prognosis? Practically, who do you think can be involved?

End-of-life care

a) Tell me about end-of-life and/or palliative care for patients in your unit. How do you think it is managed? Good points? Bad points?

b) What are the barriers to effective end-of-life care in your ICU?

c) What would you like to see change in the way your unit handles end-of-life care?

d) Who do you think should be involved in end-of-life care on your unit? Practically, who do you think can be involved?