Assessment of death notification to the families of deceased patients in Intensive Care Units of a specialized cardiovascular medical center

Shiva Khaleghparast

Abstract
Aim .The aim of this study was to assess the current status of death notification by healthcare staff to the families of deceased patients in the intensive care units of a specialized cardiovascular medical center in 2020.
Background. Delivering bad news, particularly death notification, is one of the most important and challenging responsibilities of healthcare providers in intensive care units (ICUs). This process has profound psychological and emotional impacts, not only on the patient, but also on their families. This study was conducted to evaluate the performance of the healthcare staff in delivering death news, identify existing strengths and weaknesses, and provide potential solutions for improving this process.
Method. This descriptive cross-sectional study used the SPIKES questionnaire to assess the communication skills of the healthcare staff in delivering death news. A total of 121 healthcare staff members from the intensive care units of the specialized cardiovascular medical center participated in the study, selected via census sampling. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 24, and a significance level of 0.05 was considered.
Findings. Of the 232 death notifications, 32.3 percent were delivered in person, and 67.7 percent were delivered by phone. The mean score obtained from the SPIKES questionnaire was 3.70±1.56, indicating an average performance in delivering death news. This result suggests that the performance of the healthcare staff in this regard is reasonably acceptable but still has room for improvement. The study also found that, in this center, the majority of death notifications were delivered by phone, which contradicts global standards that emphasize delivering death news in a private and in-person setting.
Conclusion. This study showed that healthcare staff in intensive care units need continuous training in communication skills and methods for delivering bad news to patients' families. Additionally, the results indicate the necessity of developing standardized protocols for death notification in healthcare settings. It is recommended that senior management pay special attention to this matter and develop precise protocols to improve the quality of this process and prevent the psychological harm caused by delivering death news to families.

Artificial intelligence for monitoring medication use and therapeutic behaviors in patients with cardiovascular disease; the role of nurses: A systematic review

Samaneh Shahidifar

Abstract
Aim. This systematic review aimed to investigate the role of nurses in using artificial intelligence to monitor medication use and therapeutic behaviors in patients with cardiovascular disease.
Background. With the increasing complexity of cardiac care and cardiac patient medication regimens, the use of artificial intelligence as a clinical decision support tool, especially in the nursing profession, has become increasingly important. This technology can play an effective role in monitoring cardiac medication use, reducing medication errors, and improving patient treatment behaviors.
Method. This study was conducted as a systematic review. Electronic databases including CINAHL, Medline, Google Scholar, Web of Science, Scopus, and SID were searched for relevant articles published between 2020 and 2025. Studies meeting predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria were selected, and their quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute appraisal tools. A total of 17 articles were included in the final analysis.
Findings. The results suggest that AI-based systems, including machine learning algorithms, neural networks, and risk prediction models, can help improve cardiac safety, monitor vital signs, and increase patient compliance with prescribed treatments. However, challenges were identified, such as nurses' resistance to technology, ethical concerns, threats to professional identity, lack of infrastructure, and issues related to data security and privacy.
Conclusion. Artificial intelligence demonstrates substantial potential to enhance nursing care quality, patient safety, and medication monitoring. Nevertheless, successful integration requires a human-centered approach, targeted education for nurses, organizational support, and preservation of clinical judgment.

Cardiovascular Nursing Journal

Assessment of death notification to the families of deceased patients in Intensive Care Units of a specialized cardiovascular medical center

Artificial intelligence for monitoring medication use and therapeutic behaviors in patients with cardiovascular disease; the role of nurses: A systematic review