Barriers to Comprehensive Care in Intensive Care Units

The environment of intensive care unit may have substantial impact on both health care outcomes and patients safety. Performance obstacles are the factors that hinder in the Intensive Care Nurses capacity to perform their jobs. Objectives-To assess barriers perceived by doctors, nurses, patients and care takers to comprehensive nursing care in intensive care units and to co-relate barriers perceived by them. Methodology - A cross sectional descriptive approach with an in-depth interview was used for this study. Dependent variable was comprehensive care provided to patients in Intensive care units and the independent variable was barriers to Intensive care units. Research setting of this study was Intensive care units of Krishna Hospital, Karad. A convenient sampling technique was used for this study and the population was 60 doctors, nurses, patients, and relatives each. Results- The identified barriers are experienced by doctors and nurses are increased workload, less equipments and supplies indifferent attitude among co-workers and less staff patient ratio. The barriers experienced by patients and care takers are in appropriate care and late care. Conclusion - The findings reveals that increased workload, less equipments and supplies, indifferent attitude among co-workers and less staff patient ratio are the major barriers experienced by doctors and nurses.