Validation of the French-Canadian Version of FAME, a Family Engagement Measurement Tool for the Intensive Care Unit.

The validation was done in Canadian ICUs, and the French participants were from Quebec, so the results may not apply to other ICU settings or French-speaking populations. The French cohort was mostly White (87%), so cultural differences may not be captured. Follow-up data were available for only 69 participants, with 34% attrition, so satisfaction and mental health links rest on a smaller sample. The study did not test whether using FAME changes nursing care, family engagement, or patient outcomes. The total FAME score was treated as one overall engagement measure, even though the tool covers several domains. The number of parents was small, so the higher parent engagement finding should be read cautiously.

Dr Goldfarb was supported by a Clinical Research Award from Fonds de recherche du Québec Santé (298332). The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest.

Do not read this as evidence that increasing family engagement improves satisfaction or mental health. This was a validation study of a questionnaire, not a trial of an intervention. Higher FAME scores were associated with satisfaction, but not with anxiety or depression.