title: The process of giving information to families of critically ill patients: a field of tension.
abstract: We conducted research to study nurses' views on factors that influence their relationship with patients' relatives in intensive care units in three hospitals in Mallorca (Balearic Islands, Spain). This article focuses on the findings related to the process of giving information to the family. We used a post-structuralist theoretical framework and data were collected through observations and interviews. The analysis revealed that nurses thought information eases relatives' worries, but they felt that in order to avoid conflicts with physicians they should restrain themselves from providing it. We propose that the existing power relationships in intensive care units should be challenged if we expect health care professionals to offer patients' relatives a planned information process.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing and Physiotherapy, University of Balearic Islands, Spain.
authors.forename: Concha
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zaforteza
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gastaldo
authors.forename: Joan E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: de Pedro
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Cuenca
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lastra
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003142:Communication; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D016638:Critical Illness / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008521:Mediterranean Islands; D008875:Middle Aged; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology*; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D010687:Philosophy, Nursing; D019555:Physician-Nurse Relations; D011209:Power, Psychological; D017009:Professional Autonomy; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D012649:Self Concept; D012944:Social Support; D013030:Spain; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014789:Visitors to Patients / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology