title: Family members' lived experiences of everyday life after intensive care treatment of a loved one: a phenomenological hermeneutical study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To illuminate relatives' experiences of everyday life after a loved one's stay in an intensive care unit.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Relatives of intensive care patients experience considerable stress that can have a long-lasting effect on their everyday lives. Relatives frequently report anxiety, depression and complicated grief as a result of their experiences in the intensive care unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  A qualitative design was chosen.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirteen relatives were interviewed 3 months to 1 year after the discharge or death of an intensive care unit patient. A phenomenological hermeneutical method was used to explore family members' lived experiences upon returning home after their loved ones' stay in the intensive care unit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two themes emerged from the analysis of the data: (1) changes in everyday life and emotional reactions, and (2) managing changes and need of support and follow-up from the ICU.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Family members experience changes in emotions, roles and responsibilities after returning home. They must maintain control of themselves and adapt to the changes to face the future. They cope by using their personal resources and support from others. Some are in further need of follow-up from the intensive care unit staff.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nursing education could focus increasingly more on the significance of communication and personal support, which helps family members cope during patients' stay and experience a sense of personal strength when returning home. Further research should address how to identify and support those with special needs after the intensive care unit stay.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Agder, Grimstad, Norway.
authors.forename: Gro
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Frivold
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Agder, Grimstad, Norway.
authors.forename: Åshild
authors.initials: Å
authors.lastname: Slettebø
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Agder, Grimstad, Norway.|Centre for Caring Research - Southern Norway, University of Agder, Grimstad, Norway.
authors.forename: Bjørg
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dale
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003422:Critical Care / Q000523:psychology*; D064648:Critical Care Nursing; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009736:Nursing Process; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D013315:Stress, Psychological
keywords: coping; critical care nursing; emotional stress; follow-up strategies phenomenological hermeneutical method; professional-family relations; roles