Resumo

SANTANA CABRERA, L. et al. Physicians’ attitudes and perceptions regarding the critical care and critical care specialty. Med. Intensiva [online]. 2008, vol.32, n.7, pp.319-328. ISSN 0210-5691.

Objetive. To evaluate the attitudes and perceptions of the doctors of a hospital regarding critical care and the speciality of Intensive Medicine. Design. Prospective, descriptive study during 3 months. Setting. Insular University Hospital in Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain. Patients. Medical specialists and residents. Intervention. Anonymous survey. Main variables. Demographic data of the interviewed doctors were collected and they were asked about their labour or personal previous relation with the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), the attitudes of the critical care doctors’ of their hospital and their perceptions regarding the critical care speciality. Results. We interviewed 116 doctors, 75 staff and 41 residents. Less of the third part believed that the ICU was a ward for potentially critical patients. A high percentage of the doctors whom had been refused some admission were not to agree with the arguments that they received. More than 40% of the interviewed ones affirmed had not requested bed in the ICU for any patient who had benefited from it, especially because they were thinking that the admission would be refused. Some doctors think that the professionals employed at the ICU are doctors of different specialities. The speciality of Intensive Medicine is perceived by a high level of stress among the professionals. Conclusions. We detect the ignorance of other professionals about the function of a Service of Intensive Medicine and the model of ICU of our country. Also we find high rates of dissatisfaction among the professionals who was refused some admission in the unit, because of we believe that clinical guides about the criteria of admission must be elaborated and to announce them among the doctors of the hospital. The professionals perceive that we suffer a high level of stress.

Palavras-chave : intensive care; quality of health care; social perception; attitude of health personnel.

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