Alessandro Galazzi1, Ileana Adamini2, Giacomo Bazzano3, Livia Cancelli4, Isabell Fridh5, Dario Laquintana6, Maura Lusignani7, Laura Rasero8. 1. Department of Healthcare Professions, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy; Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy. Electronic address: alessandro.galazzi@policlinico.mi.it. 2. Department of Healthcare Professions, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy. Electronic address: ileana.adamini@policlinico.mi.it. 3. Department of Healthcare Professions, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy. Electronic address: giacomo.bazzano96@gmail.com. 4. Department of Healthcare Professions, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy. Electronic address: livia.cancelli@policlinico.mi.it. 5. Faculty of Caring Science, Work Life and Social Welfare, University of Borås, Borås, Sweden; Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden. Electronic address: isabell.fridh@hb.se. 6. Department of Healthcare Professions, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy. Electronic address: dario.laquintana@policlinico.mi.it. 7. Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy. Electronic address: maura.lusignani@unimi.it. 8. Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy. Electronic address: laura.rasero@unifi.it.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Intensive care unit diaries are often used to support patients during their psychological recovery. The intensive care unit stay can be upsetting, disturbing and traumatic for both patients and their families especially when the patient does not survive. AIM: To investigate the connection between intensive care unit diaries and the grieving process experienced by family members of adult patients deceased in the intensive care unit. METHODS: Systematic literature review according to PRISMA guidelines: PubMed, CINAHL and Cochrane Library were consulted. The Caldwell's framework was used for the quality appraisal. RESULTS: Only six studies examine this topic. The potential benefits of intensive care unit diaries in family members' bereavement process may be an aid to realise how extremely ill their loved one was, may provide comfort and may help relatives to cope with their loss. CONCLUSION: The use of intensive care unit diaries to help family members' bereavement process may be a useful tool but further research is necessary to better understand their role and benefits.
BACKGROUND: Intensive care unit diaries are often used to support patients during their psychological recovery. The intensive care unit stay can be upsetting, disturbing and traumatic for both patients and their families especially when the patient does not survive. AIM: To investigate the connection between intensive care unit diaries and the grieving process experienced by family members of adult patients deceased in the intensive care unit. METHODS: Systematic literature review according to PRISMA guidelines: PubMed, CINAHL and Cochrane Library were consulted. The Caldwell's framework was used for the quality appraisal. RESULTS: Only six studies examine this topic. The potential benefits of intensive care unit diaries in family members' bereavement process may be an aid to realise how extremely ill their loved one was, may provide comfort and may help relatives to cope with their loss. CONCLUSION: The use of intensive care unit diaries to help family members' bereavement process may be a useful tool but further research is necessary to better understand their role and benefits.