Assessment of the Nurses’ Knowledge Regarding Multidimensional Counseling on Grief Management and Psychological Well-Being of Family Members of ICU Patients

Abstract

Background: Emotional distress among families of ICU patients is common, yet nurses often lack formal training in grief management and psychological support, creating a gap in family-centered care delivery. Objective: To assess the knowledge of nurses regarding multidimensional counseling on grief management and the psychological well-being of ICU patients' family members, identifying strengths and gaps to inform educational interventions. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in Lahore, Pakistan, among 50 female nurses aged 18–25 years with bachelor's degrees. Stratified random sampling was used to select participants meeting inclusion criteria (novice nurses and nursing students), excluding non-nursing staff. Data were collected using a structured, pilot-tested questionnaire evaluating grief knowledge and psychological support skills. Ethical approval was granted by the Institutional Review Board of Green International University in accordance with the Helsinki Declaration. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS version 25, applying descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, and one-sample t-tests to evaluate group differences and knowledge levels. Results: Nurses demonstrated strong skills in emotional validation (88%) and active listening (86%) yet showed limited awareness of the psychological impact of ICU stays (only 26% recognized this). Nurses with prior grief training scored significantly higher (mean difference = 11.1, p < 0.001), with a large effect size (Cohen’s d = 1.77). The overall knowledge score was significantly above the neutral benchmark (t(49) = 16.03, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Early-career nurses possess foundational emotional support competencies but lack comprehensive knowledge of grief mechanisms and psychological impacts on ICU families. Targeted grief counseling education could enhance clinical preparedness and foster more effective family-centered care in critical care settings.