title: Accompanying critically ill relatives in emergency departments.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Family members are a crucial part of the holistic approach to care in emergency departments. In particular, they are a group who are vulnerable, yet have been overlooked when considering care options.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The primary aim of this systematic review was to appraise research relevant to identifying and meeting the needs of family members who accompany a critically ill person into the Emergency Department (ED). The information was intended to inform future research into the care of these people.
  
  
  METHODS
  A quality assessment strategy was specifically developed to evaluate the various research designs used. The outcomes of the highest quality studies were used to develop evidence-based clinical practice guidelines to inform clinicians caring for family members who accompany a critically ill person into the ED.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Recommendations for family care drawn from this review provide the foundation for more rigorous methodologies in future research into this topic. Key findings concern family needs for communication, proximity, support, comfort, assurance and to locate meaning in the event.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The review has revealed current knowledge about the care of family members who accompany a critically ill person into the ED that provides guidelines for practice. Despite significant limitations, the knowledge can lead to recommendation to guide and inform future intervention research.
authors.affiliation: Emergency Department, Monash Medical Centre, Clayton, Victoria, Australia. b.redley@southernhealth.org.au
authors.forename: Bernice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Redley
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Beanland
authors.forename: Mari
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Botti
mesh_terms: D003422:Critical Care / Q000523:psychology*; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000592:standards; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D011368:Professional-Family Relations