Translation and Validation of the Canadian ICU Family Satisfaction Questionnaire (FS-ICU-24R) to Danish-A Protocol.

Background: Family-centered care is vital in the intensive care unit, yet families often experience significant distress, increasing risks of anxiety and depression. Flexible presence, open communication, and involvement in care are central to supporting them. Guidelines recommend liberal visitation policies, structured communication, and staff education to strengthen family-centered practices. Measuring family satisfaction offers valuable insights to guide improvements, ensuring care addresses both patient needs and the well-being of families. Family satisfaction can be assessed with the Canadian questionnaire Family Satisfaction with Care in the Intensive Care Unit (FS-ICU-24R), a validated tool available in 24 languages. It consists of 32 items covering care, information, decision making, end-of-life, and open feedback. Psychometric testing has shown high reliability, with distinct subscales for satisfaction with care and satisfaction with information/decision making. However, some evidence suggests that decision making and information could represent separate constructs. The aim of this study is to translate and culturally adapt the FS-ICU-24R into Danish and to test its reliability and validity among family members of intensive care unit patients in Denmark. Furthermore, we will examine whether the questionnaire is best structured into two or three subscales.

Method: This prospective study will be conducted in two phases. Phase one will involve translation and cultural adaptation of the FS-ICU-24R into Danish using a standardized multistep approach. Phase two will test psychometric properties, including internal consistency, convergent and construct validity, test-retest reliability, and internal structure. The study will be registered with the Central Denmark Region (D 1-16-02-51-24) and on Clinical Trials (NCT07087132).

Results: The study is expected to provide a valid and reliable Danish version of the FS-ICU-24R.

Conclusion: A Danish version of the FS-ICU-24R will facilitate national and international research aimed at improving conditions for family members of intensive care unit patients.