Family members' experiences of being cared for by nurses and physicians in Norwegian intensive care units: a phenomenological hermeneutical study.
OBJECTIVE
When patients are admitted to intensive care units, families are affected. This study aimed to illuminate the meaning of being taken care of by nurses and physicians for relatives in Norwegian intensive care units.


METHODS
Thirteen relatives of critically ill patients treated in intensive care units in southern Norway were interviewed in autumn 2013. Interview data were analysed using a phenomenological hermeneutical method inspired by the philosopher Paul Ricoeur.


RESULTS
Two main themes emerged: being in a receiving role and being in a participating role. The receiving role implies experiences of informational and supportive care from nurses and physicians. The participating role implies relatives' experiences of feeling included and being able to participate in caring activities and decision-making processes.


CONCLUSIONS
The meaning of being a relative in ICU is experienced as being in a receiving role, and at the same time as being in a participating role. Quality in relations is described as crucial when relatives share their experiences of care by nurses and physicians in the ICU. Those who experienced informational and supportive care, and who had the ability to participate, expressed feelings of gratitude and confidence in the healthcare system. In contrast, those who did not experience such care, especially in terms of informational care expressed feelings of frustration, confusion and loss of confidence. However, patient treatment and care outweighed relatives' own feelings.
University of Agder, Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences, PO Box 509, 4898 Grimstad, Norway. Electronic address: gro.frivold@uia.no.
Gro
G
Frivold
University of Agder, Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences, PO Box 509, 4898 Grimstad, Norway; Centre for Caring Research - Southern Norway, PO Box 509, 4898 Grimstad, Norway. Electronic address: bjorg.dale@uia.no.
Bjørg
B
Dale
University of Agder, Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences, PO Box 509, 4898 Grimstad, Norway. Electronic address: ashild.slettebo@uia.no.
Åshild
Å
Slettebø
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003142:Communication; D003422:Critical Care; D064648:Critical Care Nursing; D003657:Decision Making; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D066297:Hermeneutics; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway; D009726:Nurses; D010820:Physicians; D011368:Professional-Family Relations
Communication; Family members; Hermeneutics; Intensive care unit; Patient care; Phenomenology; Relations