Intensive care units in Turkish hospitals: do they meet the minimum standards?

BACKGROUND: International and national standards for ICUs have been developed to ensure patient safety and provide effective and efficient service in these units. However, global economic crises along with shortages in professional health care staff affect the ability of ICUs to meet and maintain these standards.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to ascertain whether the equipment and workforce in intensive care units (ICUs) in Turkish hospitals meet current ICU standards.

DESIGN: This is a descriptive study based on the results of a survey questionnaire.

METHODS: In total, 145 ICUs in university and private hospitals in Turkey participated in this survey. Data collection was done by means of a survey questionnaire that assessed the current equipment and workforce in these ICUs.

RESULTS: We found that 97·0% of the occupied beds in the ICUs had a cardiac monitor. Crash-carts were present in every ICU. Transport monitors and transport ventilators were available in two of three and in one of two ICUs, respectively. In 82·8% of the ICUs, a physician (as a trainee level) was present at all times, while only a few ICUs had ICU-care team members such as respiratory- and physiotherapist, clinical pharmacists and dieticians available. There was a general shortage of nursing staff in ICUs.

CONCLUSION: Currently, ICUs in Turkish hospitals meet the majority of standards for ICU equipment, but they fail to meet both the international and national standards for ICU workforce requirement.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Hospital and ICU managers could use our findings to compare their facilities with others or to identify areas in need of improvement.