Abstract
Background: Diaries written by nurses for the critically ill patient help the relatives cope and support the patient. Relatives may participate in writing a diary for the critically ill and when they do this is appreciated by the patients. However, the relative's perception of writing a diary has not previously been explored. Aim: To explore how relatives perceive writing a diary for the critically ill patient. Method: In a phenomenological–hermeneutic study building on the theory of Ricoeur interviews with seven relatives were conducted and interpreted. Findings: When relatives wrote a diary for the critically patients, they experienced that writing and reading the diary allowed for the unloading of emotions and expression of feelings. Writing a diary was a meaningful activity while enduring a situation of uncertainty and furthermore it created a distance that allowed understanding of the critical situation. Conclusion: Involving relatives in writing a diary may support relatives and help them cope with the critical situation. Relevance to clinical practice: Relatives are distressed and struggle to understand what is happening during the patient's course of illness. Involving relatives in writing a diary for the critically ill could be one way to meet their needs in the critical situation.
| Translated title of the contribution | Relatives perception of writing diaries for critically ill. : A phenomenological hermeneutical study. |
|---|---|
| Original language | English |
| Journal | Nursing in Critical Care |
| Volume | 21 |
| Issue | 6 |
| Pages (from-to) | 351-357 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| ISSN | 1362-1017 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 6 Nov 2016 |
Keywords
- coping
- critical care nursing
- diaries
- extended family
- phenomenological research