Table 2.

Ten top important needs rated by family carers in two groups at baseline measure

Need statementa	Experimental ($n=34$)		Control ($n=32$)		p*	95% CI
	M	SD	M	SD
To know specific facts concerning the patient's progress (1)b, c	3.38	0.52	3.46	0.42	0.57	0.09–0.12
To know the expected outcome (2)c	3.29	0.48	3.33	0.30	0.69	0.02–0.10
To talk about negative feelings such as guilt or anger (6)d	3.23	0.32	3.15	0.29	0.29	0.05–0.11
To know exactly what is being done for the patient (3)e	3.18	0.58	3.26	0.60	0.58	0.04–0.13
To have directions as to what to do at the bedside (15)e	3.15	0.50	3.06	0.81	0.59	0.06–0.20
To know how the patient is being treated medically (4)e	3.12	0.42	3.20	0.71	0.58	0.02–0.18
To know about the types of staff members taking care of the patient (19)e	3.10	0.68	3.02	0.53	0.60	0.04–0.15
To have explanations of the environment before going into the ICU for the first time (5)c	3.07	0.51	3.19	0.80	0.47	0.06–0.20
To know why specific things were done for the patient (21)e	3.04	0.71	2.96	0.58	0.62	0.04–0.14
To talk about the possibility of the patient's death (10)d	3.02	0.55	3.08	0.91	0.75	0.03–0.12

Note: Mean scores are based on a 1- to 4-point importance scale with 4 being the highest score. 95%CI—95% confidence interval for the difference in mean scores between groups.

^*The level of significance in comparing item mean scores between groups using independent t-test.

^aNeed statements of the Chinese version of the Critical Care Family Needs Inventory are listed in order of descending mean scores for family members in experimental group.

^bRatings of item importance by the comparison group in parentheses.

^cItems belong to assurance scale.

^dItems belong to support scale.

^eItems belong to information scale.