COPING STYLES OF RELATIVES OF PATIENTS ADMITTED TO AN INTENSIVE CARE UNIT: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Abstract

Introduction. Up to one-third of the critically ill family members develop post-traumatic stress symptoms, as well as other mental pathologies. Knowing how families cope with the admission in the ICU could help us to design future interventions that may reduce the risk of these symptoms. Our objective was to identify the coping strategies of the critically ill family members. 

Methodology. Systematic Qualitative Review, following the guidelines of the PRISMA statement, done between April 5 and 15, 2017. Web of Science, CINAHL, Pubmed and OpenGrey databases were searched, and the Recolecta, Open Grey and DART-Europe databases. MeSH “adaptation, psychological”, “family” and “intensive care unit” were used as well as other keywords. 

Results. Eight quantitative studies, nine qualitative studies and one mixed study were obtained. The most commonly used strategy was “problem solving”, through “passive presence”, followed by “search for support”. Ineffective strategies such as “rumination” were the least used in quantitative studies, but they appeared clearly in qualitative studies. 

Conclusions. The “problem solving” strategy is not considered as positive in itself, because it depends on the context in which it takes place. “Presence” as a coping strategy might reveal the family´s desire to help the patient. Thus, interventions should be adopted in order to involve family members in patients´ care. Further research should be done on the development of instruments that reflects the particularities of coping strategies among the relatives of the critical patients.