Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Family members of critically ill patients are often required to make complex medical decisions under emotional distress, which may affect their decision-making capacity. It is well known that psychological distress can interfere with cognitive processes that are essential for decision-making; indeed, depression and anxiety constitute some examples of such distress. AIM: This exploratory study examined psychological outcomes among family members of critically ill patients, specifically depression, anxiety, and stress. It also explored the relationships between these outcomes and decision-making self-efficacy. METHODS: The study included 90 family members of intensive care unit patients. Demographic data was collected, and participants completed the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) and a measure of decision-making self-efficacy. Correlation analysis was used to analyze the data. FINDINGS: The results showed participants suffering from varying levels of psychological distress, ranging from moderate to very high levels. To be specific, 61.1% of the respondents reported experiencing moderate to severe depression; furthermore, 67.2% of them suffered from moderate to severe levels of anxiety while 58.3% experienced moderate to severe stress. Statistical analysis revealed there was a significant inverse correlation between levels of distress and decision-making self-efficacy (r = -0.42, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Psychological distress may affect the confidence of family members in medical decision-making. The findings emphasize the need for psychological support, with structured opportunities to aid in the decision-making capacity in critical care settings.