Flannery Elizabeth, Murphy Gillian, Peters Kath, Halcomb Elizabeth, Ramjan Lucie M
School of Nursing and Midwifery, Western Sydney University, Penrith, New South Wales, Australia.
School of Nursing, Faculty of Science, Medicine & Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia.
J Adv Nurs. 2025 Apr;81(4):1966-1977. doi: 10.1111/jan.16404. Epub 2024 Aug 24.
To explore the experiences of significant others of adult patients with severe burn injury in the Intensive Care Unit. Specifically, this study explored the strategies implemented by significant others and obstacles faced that served to protect or placed them at risk of psychological sequelae during their experience of trauma.
A qualitative study using a Narrative Inquiry approach was undertaken.
Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with 17 participants during 2021-2022, who were a significant other of an adult patient in ICU with severe burn injury. These participants were recruited from the two major severe burns receiving hospitals in New South Wales, Australia. Participants' stories were analysed using a narrative analysis approach informed by Polkinghorne. The COREQ guideline was used in reporting.
As each participant navigated the traumatic experience of supporting a loved one with a severe burn injury, they faced unique obstacles to maintaining their own mental health and well-being. They employed strategies that were likely to protect them on this journey. Psychologically protective factors included taking back control, coexisting in the trauma with the patient and forging a trauma bond. These strategies effectively contained the trauma and protected others (such as children, extended family and friends). While this allowed significant others an element of control, it also effectively isolated them from the support of family and friends.
This study shows that significant others may also experience personal trauma and may not recognize this as they focus all their attention on supporting the patient with the burn injury.
With increased awareness of both protective and risk factors, support can be directed towards enhancing protective factors and addressing risk factors, thereby decreasing their impact and improving support for significant others.
No patient or public contribution.
探讨成年重症烧伤患者的重要他人在重症监护病房的经历。具体而言，本研究探讨了重要他人实施的策略以及他们在创伤经历中面临的阻碍，这些阻碍对其心理后遗症起到了保护作用或使其面临风险。
采用叙事探究法进行定性研究。
2021年至2022年期间，对17名参与者进行了个体半结构式访谈，他们均为澳大利亚新南威尔士州两家主要重症烧伤收治医院中成年重症烧伤患者的重要他人。采用由波尔金霍恩提出的叙事分析方法对参与者的故事进行分析。报告遵循COREQ指南。
在每位参与者应对支持重度烧伤亲人这一创伤经历的过程中，他们在维护自身心理健康和幸福方面都面临着独特的障碍。他们采用了一些可能在此过程中保护自己的策略。心理保护因素包括重新获得掌控感、与患者一同面对创伤以及建立创伤联结。这些策略有效地控制了创伤并保护了他人（如儿童、大家庭成员和朋友）。虽然这让重要他人有了一定的掌控感，但也有效地使他们与家人和朋友的支持隔离开来。
本研究表明，重要他人也可能经历个人创伤，且在将全部注意力集中于支持烧伤患者时可能并未意识到这一点。
随着对保护因素和风险因素认识的提高，可以针对性地提供支持，以增强保护因素并应对风险因素，从而降低其影响，改善对重要他人的支持。
无患者或公众参与。
