Factors affecting satisfaction:
(1) The education level of the family.
(1a) A better educated family (high school or higher) may show less satisfaction and may demand more information, especially if they are unfamiliar with healthcare.
(1b) A family with less education may be confused if the discussion is not held in terms that they can understand.
(2) The status of the clinician who interfaces with the family. Delivery of news by a senior physician may result in greater satisfaction.
(3) The severity of the patient's illness (as measured by the APACHE II score). A family whose relative in the ICU is more seriously ill (APACHE II score > 15) may be less satisfied with the ICU.
(4) The degree of religious fatalism in the family's culture. A family that believes in the will of God may be more accepting of whatever happens.
Additional factors:
(1) The satisfaction level expressed was greater if the form was completed in the presence of a researcher. An anonymous or unobserved evaluation may express less satisfaction.
(2) A family may be diverse with different members showing different levels of satisfaction for different reasons.
