• JiYeon Choi, Jennifer H Lingler, Michael P Donahoe, Mary Beth Happ, Leslie A Hoffman, and Judith A Tate.
• Department of Acute and Tertiary Care, University of Pittsburgh, School of Nursing, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Yonsei University College of Nursing, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: jiyeon92@gmail.com.
• Heart Lung. 2018 Jul 1; 47 (4): 401-407.

BackgroundFew studies have longitudinally explored the experience and needs of family caregivers of ICU survivors after patients' home discharge.MethodsQualitative content analysis of interviews drawn from a parent study that followed family caregivers of adults ICU survivors for 4 months post-ICU discharge.ResultsFamily caregivers (n = 20, all white, 80% woman) viewed home discharge as positive progress, but reported having insufficient time to transition from family visitor to the active caregiver role. Caregivers expressed feelings of relief during the steady recovery of family members' physical and cognitive function. However, the slow pace of improvement conflicted with their expectations. Even after patients achieved independent physical function, emotional needs persisted and these issues contributed to caregivers' anxiety, worry, and view that recovery was incomplete.ConclusionFamily caregivers of ICU survivors need information and skills to help managing patients' care needs, pacing expectations with actual patients' progress, and caregivers' health needs.Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

31 keywords...

hide…