Abstract: Objective: To translate the Family Inpatient Communication Survey (FICS) into Chinese version, and to test its reliability and validity. Methods: The Chinese version of FICS was developed through the process of translation and back-translation; we conducted cross-cultural modification through expert consultation and pilot-test; 264 ICU patients' family members were investigated through convenience sampling for testing the reliability and validity of Chinese version of FICS. Results: The Chinese version of FICS contained 2 dimensions with a total of 30 items. The critical value of each item was 4.248-20.322, and the Pearson correlation coefficient between each item score and the total scale score was 0.547-0.798; The I-CVI was 0.857-1.000, and the S-CVI /Ave was 0.952. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient of the scale was 0.926, and the test-retest reliability was 0.941. Conclusion: The Chinese version of FICS has good reliability and validity, and it can be used to evaluate the quality of clinician-family communication for ICU patients' family members.

Key words: Intensive Care Unit; family members; clinician-family communication; reliability; validity