Family experiences of patients admitted in Intensive Care Unit (ICU)

Background: The Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is one of the most stressful places for families thus; admission of a patient in this unit will influence other members of family and their functions. According to continuous presence of researcher in this ward, observing the stresses and concerning of the patients’ families and considering the valuable role of the experiences of the family in planning and caring of the patients, attention to their needs and roles at the time of illness has an essential importance. This study was aimed to describe the experiences (physical, psychological, social and spiritual) of the family of the patients who are admitted in ICU. Methods: This study was a qualitative research thus; the method was based on descriptive phenomenology. The sampling method was purposive and it was continued until the saturation of data. Fourteen family members of patients in ICU, who attended the including criteria, were selected and interviewed. The findings were analyzed using the seven-step Colaizzi method Results: Findings showed that when a patient is admitted in ICU, his/her family members experience severe stresses which these experiences are described in physical, emotional, psychological and social concepts. Also, there were increasing and decreasing factors that influence their experiences. Conclusion: According to the results of this study, the physicians, nurses and other care providers can decline these stresses by suitable therapeutic interventions. While adapting the family members, they guide the families in safe and right direction.