Koçyiğit Kavak Hülya, Demirci Suna
Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Science, Sivas Cumhuriyet University, Sivas, Turkey.
Anesthesia Intensive Care Unit, Mengücek Gazi Education and Research Hospital, Erzincan, Turkey.
Nurs Crit Care. 2025 Jul;30(4):e70115. doi: 10.1111/nicc.70115.
Mechanical ventilation is a life-saving intervention for critically ill patients in intensive care units, often leading to unconsciousness due to sedation, neurological impairment or metabolic dysfunction. Family members of unconscious patients face significant emotional and psychological challenges, including uncertainty, anxiety and helplessness. Understanding their interaction experiences is crucial for improving support strategies.
This study aims to explore the interaction experiences of family members with their unconscious relatives on mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit.
A phenomenological qualitative approach was employed, utilising semi-structured interviews with 15 family members of unconscious patients in intensive care units. Data were analysed using Colaizzi's and Giorgi's phenomenological methods with MAXQDA software to identify themes and sub-themes.
Five interconnected themes emerged: Bonding and Communication Challenges, Psychological and Emotional Burden, The Meaning of Physical and Verbal Interaction, Coping Strategies and Communication with Healthcare Professionals. These themes illustrate the complex emotional, cognitive and relational impact of unconsciousness and mechanical ventilation on families. Physical and verbal interactions were found to serve therapeutic and relational functions, while coping involved hope, patience and spiritual meaning-making. Communication gaps with healthcare professionals increased distress, highlighting the need for clear, empathetic and consistent information-sharing.
The findings emphasise the critical role of effective communication and psychosocial support in addressing the emotional burden faced by family members of unconscious intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Integrating family-centred care with empathetic communication strategies can help alleviate uncertainty and promote psychological well-being.
Empathetic communication, structured emotional support and transparent information-sharing within a family-centred care approach are essential for alleviating the emotional and psychological burden experienced by relatives of unconscious ICU patients and for enhancing the overall quality of critical care delivery.
机械通气是重症监护病房中危重症患者的一项挽救生命的干预措施，但由于镇静、神经功能障碍或代谢功能紊乱，常导致患者失去意识。昏迷患者的家属面临着巨大的情感和心理挑战，包括不确定性、焦虑和无助感。了解他们的互动体验对于改进支持策略至关重要。
本研究旨在探讨重症监护病房中昏迷患者家属与接受机械通气的亲属之间的互动体验。
采用现象学质性研究方法，对15名重症监护病房昏迷患者的家属进行半结构式访谈。使用Colaizzi法和Giorgi法，借助MAXQDA软件对数据进行分析，以确定主题和子主题。
出现了五个相互关联的主题：情感联系与沟通挑战、心理和情感负担、身体和言语互动的意义、应对策略以及与医护人员的沟通。这些主题说明了昏迷和机械通气对家庭产生的复杂情感、认知和关系影响。身体和言语互动具有治疗和关系功能，而应对则涉及希望、耐心和精神意义的构建。与医护人员的沟通差距加剧了痛苦，凸显了清晰、共情和一致的信息共享的必要性。
研究结果强调了有效沟通和心理社会支持在应对昏迷重症监护病房（ICU）患者家属所面临的情感负担方面的关键作用。将以家庭为中心的护理与共情沟通策略相结合，有助于减轻不确定性，促进心理健康。
在以家庭为中心的护理方法中，共情沟通、结构化情感支持和透明信息共享对于减轻昏迷ICU患者亲属的情感和心理负担以及提高重症护理的整体质量至关重要。
