title: Relatives' experiences during the next of kin's hospital stay after surviving cardiac arrest and therapeutic hypothermia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe relatives' experiences during the next of kin's hospital stay after surviving a cardiac arrest (CA) treated with hypothermia at an intensive care unit (ICU).
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty relatives were interviewed when the person having suffered the CA was discharged from hospital, 1.5 to 6 weeks post-CA. Data were analysed using qualitative content analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three themes are described: The first period of chaos, Feeling secure in a difficult situation, and Living in a changed existence. Relatives found it difficult to assimilate the medical information and wanted it in written form. They wanted honest and clear information about their next of kin's condition and prognosis. They lacked rehabilitation plans after discharge from the medical ward. Relatives felt a need to maintain telephone contact with family members and friends, which was time-consuming. They felt guilty and had a conscience about these feelings. Relatives felt uncertain about the future, but still hopeful.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Relatives asked for more information and individual rehabilitation plans. Booklets describing CA, the ICU stay and continuing care and rehabilitation directed at both the patients and their relatives are needed. Follow-up visits to the ICU staff, for both patients and relatives, need to be arranged. Hospitals should consider having a rehabilitation plan for this group of patients, which is presented by a team of healthcare professionals and that focuses on the individual's situation, including the consequences of their heart disease and brain damage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Sciences - Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Uppsala University, Sweden. ing-marie.larsson@akademiska.se
authors.forename: Ing-Marie
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Larsson
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wallin
authors.forename: Sten
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rubertsson
authors.forename: Marja-Leena
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Kristoferzon
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000359:Aftercare / Q000523:psychology*; D000368:Aged; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000628:therapy*; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007036:Hypothermia, Induced; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000458:organization & administration; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D036301:Qualitative Research