Coping by relatives of critical care patients

Objective cribe the coping strategies used by the relatives of patients hospitalized in an intensive care unit. s s a descriptive study that uses a convenience sample and both qualitative and quantitative methods. The study was conducted at a tertiary university hospital in Brazil. Participants included 41 relatives who were selected during the first 96 hours of patient hospitalization in the intensive care unit. s rticipants reported that they more frequently used Coping Strategies Based on the Stressor, followed by Religiosity/Fantasy Thinking and Seeking for Social Support. There was a statistically significant relationship (P < .01) between the use of the strategy Seeking for Social Support and elevated Acute Physiology, Age, and Chronic Health Evaluation II scores. Qualitative analysis allowed a clearer understanding of the relation between the patientʹs condition and changes in the coping strategies used by the patientʹs relatives. sion tudy describes the coping strategies used by patientsʹ relatives during the early hospitalization period. This investigation allowed for a better understanding of the relativesʹ psychologic aspects and their relation with the patientʹs clinical condition. The results shall assist the design of specific interventions directed at facilitating positive coping responses on the part of relatives.