title: Relatives' experiences of critical care.
abstract: This exploratory study investigates relatives' overall experiences of the critical care environment and how staff perceived these experiences. Traditionally, research in Critical Care concentrated on patients' psychological well-being or relatives' immediate needs. There is little research that addresses the relative's overall experience of events. Critical Care Units are possibly the most daunting units in hospitals. Having a family member admitted to a Critical Care Unit could qualify as a traumatic-enough stressor to induce post-traumatic stress symptoms in relatives. A convenience sample of eight relatives and five staff participated in the study. The study used qualitative methods and drew on techniques of grounded theory. While staff perceived relatives' experiences accurately; issues arose, from both staff and relatives perspective, with regard to accurate dissemination of information. Further research into the communication processes used within Critical Care Units is required in addition to developing best practice in this area.
authors.affiliation: European Institute of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK. f.hughes@surrey.ac.uk
authors.forename: Felicity
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bryan
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Robbins
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003142:Communication; D003422:Critical Care / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology*; D004644:Emotions; D004739:England; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006272:Health Facility Environment / Q000592:standards; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014789:Visitors to Patients / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*