RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Healing experience for family caregivers after an intensive care unit death
JF BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care
JO BMJ Support Palliat Care
FD British Medical Journal Publishing Group
SP e578
OP e584
DO 10.1136/bmjspcare-2018-001561
VO 12
IS e4
A1 Susan DeSanto-Madeya
A1 Dan Willis
A1 Julie McLaughlin
A1 Aristotle Boslet
YR 2022
UL http://spcare.bmj.com/content/12/e4/e578.abstract
AB Objectives Family caregivers suffer a high burden of emotional and psychological distress following the death of a loved one in the intensive care unit and often struggle to heal in the weeks following their loss. The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to describe and interpret the experience of healing for family caregivers six weeks following the death of a loved one in the ICU.Methods Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of twenty-four family caregivers six weeks following the death of their loved ones in the ICU. Qualitative analysis techniques were used to identify common themes central to the experience of healing across all interviews.Results Seven themes were interpreted from the data: searching for clarity from a time of uncertainty; riding an emotional rollercoaster; seeking peace in one’s decisions; moving forward with each new day; taking comfort in the memories; valuing layers of support; and discovering life on one’s own.Conclusion By identifying and gaining an understanding of healing following the death of a loved one in the ICU, nursing and other healthcare providers have an opportunity to promote healing and positively impact family caregiver’s bereavement.