Intensive care: experiences of family and friends - We interviewed 38 relatives and close friends of patients in intensive care about their experiences. : Healthtalkonline

Full list of topics

Reasons for admission :
Emergency admissions
Planned admissions

In the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) :
Seeing the patient in ICU for the first time
Suspending normal routines: visiting ICU every day
Uncertainty
Emotional impact on relatives & friends in ICU
Impact on children
Telling others
Relationships within and between families
Receiving information and news from doctors
Sources of information in ICU
Nursing care
Keeping a diary
Sources of support in ICU
At the bedside:
- Waiting for news
- Signs of improvement and progress
The relatives' room and overnight accommodation:
- The relatives' room
- Overnight accommodation

When someone dies :
End of life decisions
Death and bereavement:

On a general ward :
The ward environment and nursing care
Hospital discharge and rehabilitation

Life after leaving the hospital :
Supporting and caring for the ill person at home
Impact on work and finances
Attitudes to life after the hospital experience
Messages to others
Emotional impact on relatives and carers
- Emotional impact on family and friends
- Adjusting to a changed life
Support and information
- Support and information
- Lack of support and information

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Intensive care: experiences of family & friends

Publication date: August 2007 Last updated: November 2010.

Review date: November 2012

We interviewed 38 relatives and close friends of patients in intensive care about their experiences. Select from the key topics below, choose from the full list of topics, or explore all the interviews.

Also see... Intensive care: Patients experiences

Emergency admissions

Impact on children

Relationships within and between families

Keeping a diary

Adjusting to a changed life

Attitudes to life after the hospital experience

People's Stories

People's stories: watch and hear all interviews

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