Development of the support needs after ICU (SNAC) questionnaire.
Brenda O'Neill, Mark Linden, Pam Ramsay and 4 others
PMID 34387920WHAT IT FOUND
The SNAC questionnaire appeared reliable for asking ICU survivors about support needs.
In 200 people, total scores did not differ significantly across recovery timepoints, so it may help identify needs now rather than predict when needs change.
Key findings
01The final SNAC questionnaire has 32 statements covering informational, emotional, instrumental, appraisal and spiritual needs, rated on a 5-point scale.
02The total SNAC score had excellent internal consistency and very good test-retest reliability, but reliability varied across the five need categories.
03Overall SNAC scores did not differ significantly among recovery timepoints.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The response rate was 54%, and nonresponders may have had higher or no support needs. The pilot did not follow the same patients over time, so it cannot show how support needs change during recovery. Most respondents were White, so results may not apply to Black and Asian minority ethnic groups. Construct validity was not assessed because of sample size limitations. The recovery time windows were wide, especially from 7 weeks to 6 months, so needs may change within a stage. Test-retest reliability varied across the five need categories, from 0.3 to 0.9.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read the reliability results as proof that SNAC improves ICU survivor care or predicts changing needs. In this pilot, total scores did not differ significantly across recovery timepoints, and the same patients were not followed over time.