title: Family support at end of life.
abstract: Much of the literature for end of life in the intensive care unit focuses on patients and their treatment. Families are usually present and should be a focus, as well as a resource, in end-of-life plans. Using categories from a recently published Society of Critical Care Medicine guideline on family support during an intensive care unit stay and 7 end-of-life domains, literature retrieved since 2000 was summarized. Topics addressed are decision making, spiritual and cultural support, emotional and practical support of families, including visitation and family preparation for death, and continuity of care.
authors.affiliation: University of Wisconsin School of Nursing, K6/358 CSC 600 Highland Ave, Madison, WI 53792, USA. ktkirchhoff@wisc.edu
authors.forename: Karin T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Kirchhoff
authors.forename: April I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Faas
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001293:Attitude to Death; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003142:Communication; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D003657:Decision Making; D004644:Emotions; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology; D015399:Nursing Research; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D012944:Social Support; D029181:Spirituality; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D014789:Visitors to Patients / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D028761:Withholding Treatment