Family health conversations versus support group conversations when a family member has been critically ill: A mixed methods study.

Abstract

Introduction: When a family member has been critically ill and cared for at an intensive care unit the individual family member as well as the family system are affected and in need of support. The aim of this study was to compare and contrast the responses from two different types of follow-up interventions for families of critically ill persons, focusing on individual hopes, health-related quality of life, family functioning and ability to cope with challenges. Methods: Adult family members from three hospitals attended one of two interventions two months after intensive care. The family health conversation included the family. The support group conversation included just family members and not the patient who had experienced intensive care. Data were collected via self-reported questionnaires and follow-up interviews with family members. Quantitative and qualitative data were first analyzed separately, and the results were then integrated through mixed methods analysis. Results: A total of 38 family members took part in the interventions. Family members in the two intervention groups talked about how they had more hope for the future, and about how talking within the family and the group had helped them justify their feelings, which empowered them in the transition toward a healthier quality of life. Comparisons of the interventions show a higher significance of family function and hope in the family health conversation. Discussion: The article illustrates a disparity between how family members function and the needs they have for follow-up. We discuss what kind of follow-up these persons need.

Exploring family functioning and ‐ hardiness in families’ experiencing adult intensive care – A cross-sectional study

“…The family’s prior family functioning and family hardiness were not known in this study, important to acknowledge that all persons are individual and process their experience differently. As one study has shown, the need for follow-up has different timeframes and some need more follow-up than others [ 32 ] Studies have shown that families reporting increased symptoms of depression and anxiety due to their experience of the ICU reported symptoms of these issues even prior to admission [ 33 ]. Several studies have reported positive intervention effects of family-centered care, and nurses’ communication and psychosocial care were considered essential components of nursing interventions in the ICU [ 34 , 35 ].…”

“…It is important to give the family and patient a feeling of belonging to the context. As healthcare professionals to give the family the capability to flourish and health to be able to maintain the patient’s existing ability to rehabilitate after the critical illness and ICU [ 32 ].…”

“…The family's prior family functioning and family hardiness were not known in this study, important to acknowledge that all persons are individual and process their experience differently. As one study has shown, the need for follow-up has different timeframes and some need more followup than others [32] Studies have shown that families reporting increased symptoms of…”

Support for family members in routine outpatient colorectal cancer care: Development of a tailored support model

“…In the literature, family members' supportive care needs are assessed in multiple ways, from family health conversations (2), interviews (139) to screening (140) or using checklists (141). Family health conversations are stressed in family nursing research (2,134,(142)(143)(144) yet require knowledge, interest, and time (105,139), for which reason applicability of such assessments in routine care requires discussion with and education of intended users. Further, the patient focus of the CSNs (II), family members (III) and previous research (103,133) points to a need for close attention so family members' own needs do not remain undetected in conversations involving the persons diagnosed with cancer.…”