Internal Medicine · 3 h ago
Qualitative study examines family experiences linked to PTSD after ICU care
A qualitative analysis of interviews with 17 relatives of mechanically ventilated ICU patients explored experiences associated with post-traumatic stress symptoms. Participants described factors that could ease distress, including compassionate staff and clear communication, alongside stressors such as uncertainty, disrupted family life and difficult end-of-life experiences.
- Interviews explored ICU-related stressors and buffers for relatives.
- Clear communication and clinician compassion were described as helpful.
- Uncertainty, exclusion and end-of-life experiences were distressing.
- Small, symptom-selected sample cannot establish prevalence or intervention effects.
The article discusses a qualitative study by Kentish-Barnes and colleagues involving 17 family members of mechanically ventilated patients who had ICU stays of 3–55 days (mean 19 days). All relatives had PTSD symptoms at three months after the ICU stay, assessed using the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5. Interviews took place by phone at around six months; nearly half of participants were bereaved. Researchers used inductive thematic analysis to examine their experiences and coping strategies.
Three themes emerged. Before and during ICU admission, sudden illness could compound prior stress and bring guilt or difficult memories to the fore. During the ICU stay, familiarity with the environment and team, clinician empathy, and good communication were described as helpful. Stressors included the technical setting, changes in the patient, feelings of exclusion, uncertainty and waiting, sleep loss, and difficulty managing daily life. Bereaved relatives valued time to prepare for death and participate in decisions, but described difficulty recognizing impending death and seeing the body.
The authors argue that family-care experiences may help explain how distress develops and identify points where support could be useful. The small, selected qualitative sample—all participants reported PTSD symptoms—cannot establish prevalence or show that specific care changes prevent PTSD. The commentary supports family-focused ICU care and follow-up research, rather than demonstrating an effective intervention.
In practice
For ICU teams caring for relatives of mechanically ventilated patients, the study highlights communication, compassionate interactions, orientation to the ICU, and family inclusion as experiences relatives associated with greater comfort; uncertainty, disrupted family life and difficult end-of-life experiences were described as stressors. These findings may inform attention to family needs during and after ICU care, but the evidence is qualitative and based on 17 relatives selected for PTSD symptoms at three months. It does not establish that any particular intervention prevents PTSD or supports changing practice on its own.
AI-generated clinical interpretation · Not editor-reviewed
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Intensive Care Medicine: Family suffering after critical illness: understanding buffers and stressors ↗This is an automated AI-condensed summary that has not yet been reviewed by an editor. Always consult the full item at the original source.