The lived experience of survivors of prolonged mechanical ventilation: a phenomenological study

Post-Intensive Care Syndrome in Neurocritical Care Patients

Post-intensive care syndrome (PICS) refers to unintended consequences of critical care that manifest as new or worsening impairments in physical functioning, cognitive ability, or mental health. As intensive care unit (ICU) survival continues to improve, PICS is becoming increasingly recognized as a public health problem. Studies that focus on PICS have typically excluded patients with acute brain injuries and chronic neurodegenerative problems. However, patients who require neurocritical care undoubtedly suffer from impairments that overlap substantially with those encompassed by PICS. A major challenge is to distinguish between impairments related to brain injury and those that occur as a consequence of critical care. The general principles for the prevention and management of PICS and multidomain impairments in patients with moderate and severe neurological injuries are similar including the ICU liberation bundle, multidisciplinary team-based care throughout the continuum of care, and increasing awareness regarding the challenges of critical care survivorship among patients, families, and multidisciplinary team members. An extension of this concept, PICS-Family (PICS-F) refers to the mental health consequences of the intensive care experience for families and loved ones of ICU survivors. A dyadic approach to ICU survivorship with an emphasis on recognizing families and caregivers that may be at risk of developing PICS-F after neurocritical care illness can help improve outcomes for ICU survivors. In this review, we will summarize our current understanding of PICS and PICS-F, emerging literature on PICS in severe acute brain injury, strategies for preventing and treating PICS, and share our recommendations for future directions.

Family coaching during Spontaneous Awakening Trials and Spontaneous Breathing Trials (FamCAB): pilot study protocol

INTRODUCTION

Many patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) require weaning from deep sedation (Spontaneous Awakening Trials, SATs) and mechanical ventilation (Spontaneous Breathing Trials, SBTs) in their journey to recovery. These procedures can be distressing for patients and their families. The presence of family members as 'coaches' during SATs/SBTs could provide patients with reassurance, reduce stress for patients and families and potentially improve procedural success rates.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This study will be executed in two phases:Development of a coaching module: a working group including patient partners (i.e., former ICU patients or family members of former ICU patients), researchers, and ICU clinicians will develop an educational module on family coaching during SATs/SBTs (FamCAB). This module will provide families of critically ill patients basic information about SATs/SBTs as well as coaching guidance.Pilot testing: family members of ICU patients will complete the FamCAB module and provide information on: (1) demographics, (2) anxiety and (3) satisfaction with care in the ICU. Family members will then coach the patient through the next clinically indicated SATs and/or SBTs. Information around duration of time and success rates of SATs and/or SBTs (ability to conduct a complete assessment) alongside feedback will be collected. ICU clinical staff (including physicians and nurses) will be asked for feedback on practicality and perceived benefits or drawbacks of family coaching during these procedures. Feasibility and acceptability of family coaching in SATs/SBTs will be determined.

DISCUSSION

The results of this work will inform whether a larger study to explore family coaching during SATs/SBTs is warranted.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

This study has received ethical approval from the University of Calgary Conjoint Health Research Ethics Board. Results from this pilot study will be made available via peer-reviewed journals and presented at critical care conferences on completion.

Spirituality and Chaplaincy Supporting ICU Survivorship: A Practical Overview and Strategy for Clinicians

This overview of the current literature of spirituality and health and the role of professional chaplains specifically considers intensive care unit survivorship, instead of the more common focus on end-of-life circumstances or family support on an ICU. The purpose is to enhance clinicians' understanding and use of spiritual resources for patient care and outcomes. It is a product of comprehensive daily monitoring of the Medline database from 2002 to 2022 for all publications indexed by the terms "spiritual," "religion," and "chaplain." A case will be used throughout, to illustrate spirituality dynamics. Also, a practical strategy, developed by the authors from clinical experience, will be outlined for clinicians' spiritual support of patients, requiring little time or specialized knowledge and avoiding the blurring of professional roles and boundaries, while potentially yielding clinical benefits suggested in the medical literature.

What matters most to adults with a tracheostomy in ICU and the implications for clinical practice: a qualitative systematic review and metasynthesis

PURPOSE

Tracheostomy is a common surgical procedure in ICU. Whilst often life-saving, it can have important impacts on patients. Much of the literature on tracheostomy focuses on timing and technique of insertion, risk factors and complications. More knowledge of patient experience of tracheostomy in ICU is needed to support person-centred care.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Qualitative systematic review and metasynthesis of the literature on adult experience of tracheostomy in ICU. Comprehensive search of four bibliographic databases and grey literature. Title and abstract screening and full text eligibility was completed independently by two reviewers. Metasynthesis was achieved using thematic synthesis, supported by a conceptual framework of humanised care.

RESULTS

2971 search returns were screened on title and abstract and 127 full texts assessed for eligibility. Thirteen articles were included for analysis. Five descriptive and three analytical themes were revealed. The over-arching theme was 'To be seen and heard as a whole person'. Patients wanted to be treated as a human, and having a voice made this easier.

CONCLUSIONS

Voice restoration should be given high priority in the management of adults with a tracheostomy in ICU. Staff training should focus on both technical skills and compassionate care to improve person-centred outcomes.

Patient and Family Centered Actionable Processes of Care and Performance Measures for Persistent and Chronic Critical Illness: A Systematic Review

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text.

To identify actionable processes of care, quality indicators, or performance measures and their evidence base relevant to patients with persistent or chronic critical illness and their family members including themes relating to patient/family experience.

Factors Influencing Active Family Engagement in Care Among Critical Care Nurses

Critical care nurses are vital to promoting family engagement in the intensive care unit. However, nurses have varying perceptions about how much family members should be involved. The Questionnaire on Factors That Influence Family Engagement was given to a national sample of 433 critical care nurses. This correlational study explored the impact of nurse and organizational characteristics on barriers and facilitators to family engagement. Study results indicate that (1) nurses were most likely to invite family caregivers to provide simple daily care; (2) age, degree earned, critical care experience, hospital location, unit type, and staffing ratios influenced the scores; and (3) nursing work-flow partially mediated the relationships between the intensive care unit environment and nurses' attitudes and between patient acuity and nurses' attitudes. These results help inform nursing leaders on ways to promote nurse support of active family engagement in the intensive care unit.

Quality of life improves for tracheostomy patients with return of voice: A mixed methods evaluation of the patient experience across the care continuum

OBJECTIVES

A tracheostomy tube can profoundly impact ability to communicate. The impact of this on patients' self-esteem and quality of life in the care continuum from the intensive care unit to after decannulation has not been reported. Therefore, the aim was to investigate the patient-reported experience regarding change in communication function, communication-related self-esteem and quality of life.

RESEARCH DESIGN

A mixed methods approach was utilised. Quantitative data were obtained using validated measures of self-esteem related to communication-related quality of life and general health. Data were measured before return of voice, within 48 hours of voice return and six months after tracheostomy decannulation. Qualitative data were collected through structured interviews six months after tracheostomy.

RESULTS

Seventeen participants completed the study. Four themes emerged from the interviews: It's hard communicating without a voice; What is happening to me?; A storm of dark emotions and More than a response…it's participating and recovering. Significant positive change occurred in six items of self-esteem related to communication from baseline to return of voice. Overall, positive changes in quality of life scores were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Voice loss with tracheostomy significantly affected participants' abilities to effectively communicate their care and comfort needs. Restoration of voice occurred in conjunction with patient-reported improved mood, outlook and sense of recovery.

The impact of a prolonged stay in the ICU on patients' fundamental care needs

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

To explore patients', families' and health professionals' experiences of a long-stay patient in an intensive care unit.

BACKGROUND

The fast-paced technologically driven intensive care unit environment, designed for a short patient stay, supports the provision of complex physiologically focused care for those with life-threatening illnesses. Long-stay patients with pronounced fundamental care needs fall outside predicted patient pathways, and nurses can find caring for these patients challenging.

DESIGN AND METHODS

A longitudinal, qualitative, multicase study of six cases from four New Zealand units. Case participants were patients, family members, nurses and other health professionals. Data collection methods included observation, conversations, interviews and document review. Data were analysed using thematic analysis, vignette development and trajectory mapping.

RESULTS

Challenges and successes of providing fundamental care for long-stay ICU patients are attributed to two interlinked factors. First, the biomedical model influences ICU nursing practices, resulting in prioritising tasks and technology for patient survival while simultaneously devaluing relational and comfort work. Fundamental psychosocial needs such as family presence, comfort, relationships and communication may be unmet. Second, the unit environment and culture have a significant impact on long-stay patients' ICU experiences and form physical and psychological barriers to families being present and involved. Some nurses negotiated these challenges to provide fundamental, patient- and family-centred care by adopting an approach of knowing the patient and these nurses reported satisfaction when seeing patients' positive responses.

CONCLUSION

The care environment and culture provide challenges to the provision of patient- and family-centred care for long-stay patients; however, when nurses prioritise knowing their patient these challenges can be overcome and patient and family distress reduced with the potential to improve patient outcomes.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

Recognition that patients have fundamental care needs irrespective of the setting where they receive care. Intensive care environments and cultures create challenges for nurses when there is such a heavy burden of physiological needs to be met and technological tasks to be undertaken, with a focus on acuity; however, improving provision fundamental care can result in positive patient outcomes.

A Review of the Perceptions of Healthcare Providers and Family Members Toward Family Involvement in Active Adult Patient Care in the ICU

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this article is to provide a summary of the perceptions of healthcare providers and family members toward their role in active patient care in the ICU and compare the views of healthcare providers with those of relatives of critically ill patients.

DATA SOURCES

The search was conducted using PubMed as the primary search engine and EMBASE as a secondary search engine.

STUDY SELECTION

Studies were included if they were conducted in the ICU, had an adult patient population, and contained a discussion of active patient care, including perspective or actions of family members or healthcare providers about the active participation.

DATA EXTRACTION

Titles and abstracts of articles identified through PubMed and EMBASE were assessed for relevancy of family involvement. The full article was reviewed of titles and abstracts involving family involvement of care in the ICU to assess if the topic was active care and if the article involved perceptions of healthcare providers or family members. The references of all selected articles were then evaluated for the inclusion of additional studies.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Articles including perceptions of healthcare providers were grouped separately from articles including attitudes of family members. Articles that contained the perceptions of both healthcare providers and family members were considered in both groups but were evaluated with each perspective separately. Examples of specific patient care tasks that were mentioned in each article were identified.

CONCLUSIONS

A positive attitude exists among both family members and providers toward the involvement of family members in active care tasks. Providers and family members share the attitude that a partnership is necessary and that encouragement for family members to participate is essential. The findings in this review support the need for more objective research regarding how families are caring for their loved ones and how family involvement in care is affecting patient and family outcomes.

Patients' experience during weaning of invasive mechanical ventilation: A review of the literature

OBJECTIVE

Weaning from invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) is influenced by physiological and psychological factors, the latter being the least studied. The aim was to identify, through the literature, patients' experiences during weaning from IMV and report its influencing factors.

METHOD

The literature search was conducted using the Pubmed, CINAHL and PsycINFO databases. The search terms were: "patient", "experience" and "ventilator weaning". The research limits were: age (>19years) and language (English, Spanish and Finnish).

RESULTS

Fifteen publications were analysed. The main results were grouped into three main categories according to patient's perceptions, feelings and experiences, influence of professionals' attention and determinants for successful weaning. Patients remember IMV weaning as a stressful process where they experience anxiety, frustration, despair or uncertainty. Nurses have a key role in improving communication with patients and foreseeing their needs. Family support and the care provided by the caregivers were shown as essential during the process. The patient's self-determination, self-motivation and confidence are identified as important factors to achieve successful IMV weaning.

CONCLUSIONS

Psychological care, in addition to physical and technical care, is important at providing holistic care. Interventional studies are needed to improve the care during the weaning experience.

The Potential Role of Dependency in the Weaning Process: The Case of a 57-Year-Old Woman Connected to a Mechanical Ventilator

Weaning from the mechanical ventilator is considered a difficult task, with the majority of patients remaining permanently connected to the machine. This case report demonstrates the role of dependency and denial as important factors in the weaning process from the mechanical ventilator. Supportive psychotherapy and relaxation training were provided to Rebecca (pseudonym), a 57-year-old woman connected to the mechanical ventilator. After numerous failures to wean, it was decided that Rebecca would leave the rehabilitation hospital to an assisted-living facility, connected to the mechanical ventilator. However, following a repeated discussion of Rebecca's prognosis and discharge plans, Rebecca weaned off the mechanical ventilation and made “a miraculous recovery” within days. This case study demonstrates the significant role that psychological factors play in the patient's ability to wean off the mechanical ventilator. Integrating psychology and medicine can result in better health care outcomes.

Impact of tracheostomy placement on anxiety in mechanically ventilated adult ICU patients

OBJECTIVE

To determine if self-reported anxiety levels decreased after tracheostomy placement in a sample of mechanically ventilated intensive care unit patients.

BACKGROUND

There is limited research regarding the impact of a tracheostomy on patients' anxiety. Elevated anxiety delays healing and contributes to long-term mental health complications.

METHODS

This was a secondary analysis of data from a large clinical trial conducted in urban Minnesota. Fifty-one of 116 patients received a tracheostomy. Anxiety scores were obtained daily using the Visual Analog Scale-Anxiety. Mixed model analysis was used to compare anxiety ratings pre- and post-tracheostomy.

RESULTS

There was no significant decrease in anxiety following tracheostomy after controlling for time and gender (all p > .16). Age was the only variable to impact anxiety levels: anxiety scores increased as age increased (p = .02).

CONCLUSIONS

Prospective studies are needed to more accurately assess the impact of tracheostomy placement on patient anxiety and salient outcomes.

Effect of a multi-level intervention on nurse-patient communication in the intensive care unit: results of the SPEACS trial

OBJECTIVE

To test the impact of two levels of intervention on communication frequency, quality, success, and ease between nurses and intubated intensive care unit (ICU) patients.

DESIGN

Quasi-experimental, 3-phase sequential cohort study: (1) usual care, (2) basic communication skills training (BCST) for nurses, (3) additional training in augmentative and alternative communication devices and speech language pathologist consultation (AAC + SLP). Trained observers rated four 3-min video-recordings for each nurse-patient dyad for communication frequency, quality and success. Patients self-rated communication ease.

SETTING

Two ICUs in a university-affiliated medical center.

PARTICIPANTS

89 intubated patients awake, responsive and unable to speak and 30 ICU nurses.

MAIN RESULTS

Communication frequency (mean number of communication acts within a communication exchange) and positive nurse communication behaviors increased significantly in one ICU only. Percentage of successful communication exchanges about pain were greater for the two intervention groups than the usual care/control group across both ICUs (p = .03) with more successful sessions about pain and other symptoms in the AAC + SLP group (p = .07). Patients in the AAC + SLP intervention group used significantly more AAC methods (p = .002) and rated communication at high difficulty less often (p < .01).

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides support for the feasibility, utility and efficacy of a multi-level communication skills training, materials and SLP consultation intervention in the ICU.

Relatives' involvement in nursing care: a qualitative study describing critical care nurses' experiences

OBJECTIVES

When patients become critically ill it also affects their relatives. The aim of this study was to describe critical care nurses' experience of relatives' involvement in the nursing care of patients in an intensive care unit.

METHOD

Semi-structured personal interviews with eight critical care nurses in an intensive care unit in the northern part of Sweden were conducted during 2010. The interview texts were subjected to qualitative content analysis which resulted in the formulation of two main categories and five sub-categories.

FINDINGS

The findings showed that relatives' involvement was appreciated and seen as great resource for both patients and critical care nurses. Protecting the integrity of patients was one reason for limiting their involvement. The environment and lack of time were experienced as other obstacles to the involvement of relatives.

CONCLUSION

Aligning the needs of the relatives to be involved in the care with the needs of the patient and the work situation of the nurses requires open communication between all three parties.

Revisiting caring science: some integrative ideas for the 'head, hand and heart' of critical care nursing practice

AIM

This paper introduces the notion of 'Caring science' as a way to delineate and develop particular kinds of knowledge relevant to caring practices in critical care.

RELEVANCE FOR PRACTICE

Firstly, one particular development of person centred care, lifeworld led care is offered. Its relevance for critical care nursing is analysed by pointing to examples of studies which describe temporality, spatiality, intersubjectivity and embodiment and how they may manifest with reference to the person as 'body object/body subject' and the matter of technology in critical care environments. Secondly, by use of an imagined practice scenario, the challenge of expanding our traditional notions of evidence to encompass ways of knowing that are more intimately embodied and practice related is discussed. Such knowledge, referred to as 'embodied relational understanding' is particularly relevant to a conception of caring for persons' in a holistic way.

CONCLUSION

The paper concludes by pointing to the potential for caring science, grounded in lifeworld led care, to offer some integrating ideas that legitimate the full range of resources, 'head', 'hand' and 'heart', that nurses can draw upon in everyday holistic critical care practice.

A systematic review of the experiences of adult ventilator-dependent patients

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this meta-synthesis study was to describe the nature of the experience of adult ventilator-dependent patients.

INCLUSION CRITERIA

This review considered studies utilized qualitative methods to examine the experience of adult with ventilator. The phenomena of interest were experiences of patients who were treated with ventilator for both short term and long term in ICU settings or home settings. The research was limited to studies published in Chinese or in English language.

SEARCH STRATEGY

The searching strategy sought to find both published and unpublished studies. The CINAHL, PubMed, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Chinese Periodicals Index and JIB website were used to search the articles. The preliminary keywords were drawn from the natural language terms of the topic, in the title, abstract and subject descriptors.

METHODOLOGICAL QUALITY

Each paper was assessed independently by two reviewers for methodological quality. The Joanna Briggs Institute's Qualitative Assessment and Review Instrument were used to appraisal the methodological quality of the articles. Any disagreements that arose between the reviewers were resolved through discussion with a third reviewer.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Qualitative research findings were pooled and the data analysis process involved synthesizing findings to generate a set of statements that represent the nature of the experiences of ventilator-dependent adult patients. The categories and themes/meta-syntheses were emerged from the analysis process.

RESULTS

A total of 997 papers were identified from various database and hand searches. Nineteen papers were critically appraised and 15 met inclusion criteria. Four papers were excluded because they did not meet the inclusion criteria. Five themes/meta-syntheses emerged from the analysis: 1). The feelings of fear due to being dependent on ventilator and the loss of control of life, 2). Disconnection with reality, 3). Impaired embodiment (body image and body boundary), 4). Construction of coping patterns, 5). Trust and caring relationship.

CONCLUSION

The five themes/meta-syntheses derived from the review represent the patients' experiences in regarding the threatening of the integrity of self, self-other and self-environment relationships, the coping patterns and resilient resources to maintain their self-identify and the meaning of life. These findings also illustrate the resiliency factors for those patients to cope with this stressful situation.The implications to practice include enhancing the trust relationship with health professionals, as well as the nursing actions prior to suction, during the suction procedure and post suction in related to release their psychological distress and empower their resilience factors was suggested.Furthermore, the further research could focus on the development and implementation of support programs for the patients, families, and health professionals, as well as the research regarding the reduction of psychological distress and empower the coping patterns.

More than nothing: the lived experience of tracheostomy while acutely ill

While the physical sensations surrounding tracheostomy tube insertion have been reported within nursing and allied healthcare literature, the lived experience of these sensations is poorly described. This appears relevant given the imminent results of the Tracman study (2008). A purposive sample of three participants who had tracheostomy tubes previously within a critical care area or still in situ were recruited. They described their experiences in a face-to-face semi-structured interview that were audio taped. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using Giorgi's 5 concrete steps of the human scientific phenomenological method (1997). Findings revealed themes that drew attention to the fundamental aspects of the experience. These were: Practical recommendations draw attention to the organisational support required for staff expected to care for these patients in the ward environment. This involves the introduction of evidence based guidelines and competency based care to promote the acquisition of skills required to perform those essential tasks such as suction and stoma care to a high standard. Protected, formalised skills based teaching is seen as fundamental in this process. Patients' felt confident in nursing staff that were able to demonstrate proficiency with such tasks and this is seen as crucial when one considers that the tracheostomy tube is a new experience for patients.

Clinical research 4: qualitative data collection and analysis

This six-part research series is aimed at clinicians who wish to develop research skills, or who have a particular clinical problem that they think could be addressed through research. The series aims to provide insight into the decisions that researchers make in the course of their work, and to also provide a foundation for decisions that nurses may make in applying the findings of a study to practice in their own Unit or Department. The series emphasise the practical issues encountered when undertaking research in critical care settings; readers are encouraged to source research methodology textbooks for more detailed guidance on specific aspects of the research process.

The experiences of families of critically ill patients in Greece: a social constructionist grounded theory study

BACKGROUND

The experiences of patients' families in intensive care units (ICUs) are of international concern. In Greece however, adequate attention has not been paid to this issue.

OBJECTIVE

To explore the experiences of critical care patients' families in Greece.

SETTING

The intensive care units of 3 general district hospitals in the area of Athens, Greece.

METHODOLOGY

The social constructionist version of grounded theory was used. In-depth interviews with 25 relatives of critically ill patients were carried out, and participant and non-participant observation was used to cross-validate the data obtained.

RESULTS

Seven major categories were identified, with 32 components across all categories. The experiences of families revolved around the two core categories of "Intense Emotions" and "Vigilant Attendance". The study conceptualised two new categories in this field, "Religiosity" and "Loss of Intimacy" and enhanced the category "Vigilant Attendance". Three further categories were identified, namely "Caring", "Dignity" and "Information". The various interrelationships between the categories were also examined.

CONCLUSIONS

The study has examined the experience of Greek patients' families from a qualitative perspective and suggests that major changes need to be made in terms of management and support.

Self-evaluation and peer review--an example of action research in promoting self-determination of patients with rheumatoid arthritis

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

The aim of this paper was to describe the areas that have been performed well and the areas in need of further development of rheumatoid arthritis patients.

BACKGROUND

Nurses' self-evaluation and peer review are important methods for ascertaining the changes and success in the development of nursing practice. To date, there has been minimal research regarding the use of those evaluation methods in nursing practice.

DESIGN

The findings of self-evaluation and peer review of nurses are described in a participatory action research study aimed at promotion of self-determination for patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

METHODS

In self-evaluation, the collection of data was accomplished using a self-evaluation instrument with the permanent nursing staff (n = 18), then analysed through quantitative methods. For peer review, the data were gathered through focus groups (n = 21) using a tool similar to the one used for self-evaluation. The participants included many of the same nurses as in self-evaluation. The data were analysed using qualitative content analysis.

RESULTS

Well-performed areas in nursing of rheumatoid arthritis patients were found to be promoting patient participation, supporting self-determination, performing patient-centred nursing and raising patient self-respect. The areas in need of development were connected to the nursing staff themselves: increasing collaboration of nursing staff, decreasing authoritarianism in nursing care and developing nursing practice with colleagues.

CONCLUSIONS

Self-evaluation and peer review are complementary and support one another, especially since nurses were found to be more critical in their self-evaluations than in peer review.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

Both evaluation tools proved to be useful methods in the evaluation phase of the action research process as a means of professional development. Also assisting in the development of clinical nursing practice.

A qualitative study into the lived experience of post-CABG patients during mechanical ventilator weaning

AIM

Research into mechanical ventilator weaning has predominantly been devoted to analysis and evaluation of predictors of weaning success. Few studies have examined the patient experience of weaning. The aim of this study was to provide a contemporary description of the patient experience of weaning, in order to up-date this aspect of knowledge in the context of newer modalities of mechanical ventilation and sedation.

METHODOLOGY

The study had a descriptive qualitative design focusing on the lived experience of post-CABG (coronary artery bypass graft) patients ventilated > or = 24h (n=10). Data were generated using semi-structured depth interviews conducted 2-5 months after hospital discharge. A hermeneutic phenomenological approach was used to analyze the data.

RESULTS

The article presents selected themes that emerged during the process of analysis. The main findings relate to general phenomena such as discomfort and impaired communication, psychological phenomena such as loss of control and loneliness, and existential phenomena such as temporality and human interaction.

CONCLUSION

Newer modalities of sedation and mechanical ventilation have not entirely eliminated the discomforts of critical illness; the human aspects of suffering remain. In order to address some of the general, psychological, and existential patient experiences, care should be taken to acknowledge the patient and to respect the patient domain and individual time frames. In nurse-patient communication, it is recommended that caregivers give accurate and unambiguous information.

Receiving power through confirmation: the meaning of close relatives for people who have been critically ill

AIM

This paper is a report of a study to elucidate the meaning of close relatives for people who have been critically ill and received care in an intensive care unit.

BACKGROUND

Falling critically ill can bring about a difficult change in life. In previous reports such events are described as frightening experiences, and close relatives are described as an important source of support in this difficult situation.

METHOD

A purposive sample of 10 adults, eight men and two women, narrated how they experienced their close relatives during and after the time they were critically ill. The data were collected in 2004. The interview texts were transcribed and interpreted using a phenomenological hermeneutic approach influenced by the philosophy of Ricoeur.

FINDINGS

One major theme was identified, experiencing confirmation, with six sub-themes: receiving explanations; a feeling of being understood; a feeling of safety; gaining strength and will-power; having possibilities and realizing their value. Close relatives served as tools for the person who was ill, facilitating better communication and an increased ability to do various things. Simultaneously, feelings of dependence on the close relatives were expressed. There were descriptions of loneliness and fear in the absence of close relatives and, in order to feel safe, the participants wanted their close relatives to stay near them.

CONCLUSION

Close relatives are vital, as they are the ill person's motivation to stay alive and to continue the struggle. Their presence is of great importance for the ill person and must be facilitated by staff.

On being dependent on home mechanical ventilation: depictions of patients' experiences over time

In this study, the authors describe the meanings of experiences of being dependent on a ventilator (HMV) and living at home as narrated by 13 people who had been using a ventilator via a mask or tracheostomy for half a year. The analyses revealed various movements across time toward the goal of using the ventilator successfully, and some narratives depicted suffering caused by care. The analyses also yielded different representations of embodiment. These findings were abstracted into two contrasting meanings of the experience of using HMV over time: a closing in or an opening up of the lived body, oneself, to other people and to the world. The authors illustrate this interpretation with two images. Ignorance and negative attitudes on the part of professionals working and/or managing care in the patients' homes are interpreted as causing suffering and intensifying a closed-in mode of being.

Clinical research 4: qualitative data collection and analysis

This six-part research series is aimed at clinicians who wish to develop research skills, or who have a particular clinical problem that they think could be addressed through research. The series aims to provide insight into the decisions that researchers make in the course of their work, and to also provide a foundation for decisions that nurses may make in applying the findings of a study to practice in their own Unit or Department. The series emphasises the practical issues encountered when undertaking research in critical care settings; readers are encouraged to source research methodology textbooks for more detailed guidance on specific aspects of the research process. A couple of points: 1. It is artificial to describe research as qualitative or quantitative. Studies often include both dimensions (for example, Evangelista LS, Doering L, Dracup K. Meaning and life purpose: the perspectives of post-transplant women. Heart Lung 2003;32(4):250-7; Fitzsimmons D, Parahoo K, Richardson SG, Stringer M. Patient anxiety while on a waiting list for coronary artery bypass surgery: a qualitative and quantitative analysis. Heart Lung 2003;32(1):23-31). However, for the purposes of this paper/series, this distinction is drawn for clarity of writing. 2. It is common practice for quantitative studies to refer to study 'subjects' and qualitative studies to refer to study 'participants'. For ease of reading, the latter term will be used throughout this series.

The Decision to Care: A Life-Altering Experience

The decision to care is often mandated by unavoidable alterations within the family, requiring a primary caregiver. One population that often requires complex community-based care is survivors of prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV). This investigation explored the choices and challenges of eight family caregivers of PMV survivors. Using content analysis, several mutually exclusive themes emerged describing the caregiving experience as a physically exhausting, emotionally stressful decision that required a lifestyle change to actualize. Even with the burdensome challenges and overwhelming nature of the caregiving experience, participants identified positive rewards associated with the caregiving role. Home health care nurses are in a unique position to facilitate an effective transition to the caregiving role, serving as conduits for caregiver education and skill acquisition and advocating for the development of vital infrastructures that will provide resources, reassurance, and respite from burdensome caregiving challenges.

The experiences of partners of critically ill persons in an intensive care unit

The aim of this study was to describe partners' experiences when their spouses received care in an intensive care unit (ICU). Seven partners were interviewed using a narrative approach. The interview texts were subjected to qualitative thematic content analysis. The analysis resulted in three themes; being present, putting oneself in second place and living in uncertainty. It was a shocking experience for the partners to see their critically ill spouse in the ICU. It was important to be able to be present; nothing else mattered. Showing respect, confirming the integrity and dignity of their critically ill spouse were also essential for partners. Receiving support from family and friends was important, as were understanding and accepting what had happened, obtaining information and the way in which this was given. The state of uncertainty concerning the outcome for the critically ill person was difficult to cope with. The partners wanted to hope, even though the prognosis was poor.