Critical Care, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow, Scotland.
Chief Nurse Reserach, NHS, Greater Glasgow & Clyde, Glasgow, Scotland.
Nurs Crit Care. 2024 Jul;29(4):795-806. doi: 10.1111/nicc.12983. Epub 2023 Oct 9.
Caring for bereaved families is an important aspect of the nursing role in critical care. Memory making practices are one way in which dying, death and bereavement can be acknowledged and supported within critical care. Memory making was introduced into the care of stillborn babies and neonatal deaths to improve parents' experiences of bereavement, and has since become common practice in adult critical care.
The aim of this qualitative thematic synthesis was to explore families' experiences of memory making in critical care, with a view of gaining greater understanding of the ways in which memory making impacts bereaved families.
A systematic search strategy was developed, and five databases were searched (Medline, CINAHL, PsychINFO, Embase and ASSIA). Seven qualitative studies were included: four were conducted in adult and three in paediatric critical care settings in which memory making was initiated between 2014 and 2020. Memory making practices included, patient diaries, general keepsakes, word clouds and photography.
The thematic synthesis generated four main themes to describe families' experience of memory making in critical care: 'connection', 'compassion', 'engagement and creation' and 'continuation'.
Memory making is a meaningful activity for families whose loved one dies in critical care; it brings focus and meaning during a devastating process in a highly technical environment. Families rely heavily on nursing staff for support and guidance. The creation of memories and/or keepsakes can have a positive impact on the bereavement experience for families and can facilitate a continuing bond with their loved one.
Memory making is a worthwhile practice to support and guide family bereavement within critical care. It can provide structure and purpose during an emotionally challenging transition, by supporting families to focus on a meaningful activity during a devasting time.
在重症监护中，照顾失去亲人的家庭是护理角色的一个重要方面。制造记忆是在重症监护中承认和支持临终、死亡和丧亲的一种方式。制造记忆被引入到死产婴儿和新生儿死亡的护理中，以改善父母的丧亲体验，此后，它已成为成人重症监护中的常见做法。
本定性主题综合研究旨在探讨家庭在重症监护中制造记忆的体验，以期更深入地了解制造记忆对丧亲家庭的影响方式。
制定了系统的搜索策略，并对五个数据库进行了搜索（Medline、CINAHL、PsychINFO、Embase 和 ASSIA）。共纳入 7 项定性研究：其中 4 项在成人重症监护中进行，3 项在儿科重症监护中进行，记忆制作是在 2014 年至 2020 年期间启动的。记忆制作实践包括患者日记、一般纪念品、文字云图和摄影。
主题综合生成了四个主题来描述家庭在重症监护中制造记忆的体验：“联系”、“同情”、“参与和创作”以及“延续”。
在重症监护中死亡的亲人的家庭，制造记忆是一项有意义的活动；它在高度技术性的环境中为破坏性过程带来了焦点和意义。家庭非常依赖护理人员的支持和指导。记忆的创造和/或纪念品可以对家庭的丧亲体验产生积极影响，并促进与亲人的持续联系。
在重症监护中，制造记忆是支持和指导家庭丧亲的一种有价值的做法。它可以在情感上具有挑战性的过渡期间提供结构和目的，通过支持家庭在毁灭性的时间内专注于有意义的活动。
