What is this study about?
The purpose of this study is to find out how family members feel about their experience of critical care and if this feedback can be routinely collected across the NHS, to ensure that patients and their family members have a positive experience of care.
The FREE Study took place in 20 critical care units in NHS hospitals throughout the UK. Family members of patients who stayed in the critical care unit for 24 hours or more were invited to participate by completing a Family Satisfaction in the Intensive Care Unit (FS-ICU) questionnaire. The questionnaire was posted to family members three weeks after the patient was discharged from the critical care unit.
This study used data from the Case Mix Programme.
When is it taking place?
The study opened to recruitment in May 2013 and finished in July 2014.
Who is leading the study?
Professor Kathy Rowan, ICNARC
Dr Stephen Wright, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle
This study is funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) – Health Services and Delivery Research (HS&DR) Programme (Project: 11/2003/56)
