Abstract

Aim. This study was designed to determine complications experienced by family members of patient admitted to intensive care units and to identify related factors.

Background. Family is the most fundamental social community and has a basic role in human health. An acute illness of a family member and admission in critical care unit is considered as a stressful event resulting in some problems and undesirable outcomes for other family members.

Method. This review study was done in a systematized manner and based on library literatures. To do this, the articles published on family of critical patients during 2004-2016, searched out in different Farsi and English databases using keywords of "patient's family", "critically ill patient", "and family need". After screening articles according to inclusion criteria, 20 related articles were reviewed and analyzed.

Findings. Admission of  patients in critical care unit cause some negative reactions and complications in their family in the form of physical and psychosocial disorders. These undesirable outcomes are related to different reasons usually related to patient’s caring method and the manner of interaction with family members.

Conclusion. In general, following admission of one of family member in critical care unit, the family encounters a crisis, loses its functions and experiences some problems. Based on this, nurses, as the main pillar of care delivery system, should be responsible about patients’ family, pay attention to their needs and support the family though developing a family-center care plan.