Abstract: Objective: To investigate the current status of nurse-physician communication in ICU, and to analyze demand matching strategies thereby providing a reference for improving nurse-physician communication. Methods: Mixed research methods were employed. A questionnaire survey was conducted including 435 ICU medical staffs from 15 hospitals by convenience sampling method. We interviewed 6 physicians and 11 nurses from 5 hospitals by purposive sampling approach. Results: The total score of nurse-physician communication was 73.46±11.38. Ordinal Logistic Regression Analysis showed that communication training experience, communication openness, accuracy and understanding ability were influencing factors of the satisfaction of nurse-physician communication. The interview results suggested that demand matching countermeasures of nurse-physician communication as follows: capability requirements matching strategy (strengthening skill training and cognition); opportunity demand matching strategy (building an organizational culture and creating a communication environment); internal motivation matching strategy (stimulating a sense of professional gain). Conclusion: There is still room for improvement in nurse-physician communication in ICUs in China. Managers can start from three aspects: ability, opportunity and motivation. Managers should pay more attention to training medical staff in communication and professional ability, optimizing the organizational culture and communication environment, and enhancing the sense of professional satisfaction and professional value.

Key words: nurse-physician communication; Intensive Care Unit; medical staff; mixed research