The Quick FICS: 5 and 10 Item Versions of the Family Inpatient Communication Survey.

Context: Communication quality in the hospital impacts outcomes like satisfaction, depression, and anxiety for families, and assessment tools must be efficient and reliable.

Objectives: We developed the Quick FICS-5 and -10, shorter versions of the 30-item Family Inpatient Communication Survey (FICS).

Methods: The Quick FICS were developed from the original FICS study of hospitalized patients 65+ and their surrogates.

Effects of Spiritual Care on Well-Being of Intensive Care Family Surrogates: A Clinical Trial.

Context: Critical illness of a family member is associated with high emotional and spiritual distress and difficult medical decisions.

Objectives: To determine if a semistructured spiritual care intervention improves the well-being of family surrogate decision makers in intensive care (ICU) settings.

Methods: This study is a randomized, allocation-concealed, parallel group, usual care-controlled, single-blind trial of patient/surrogate dyads in five ICUs in one Midwest, academic medical center.