Family members' lived experiences of everyday life after intensive care treatment of a loved one: a phenomenological hermeneutical study.

Aims and Objectives To illuminate relatives’ experiences of everyday life after a loved one's stay in an intensive care unit. Background Relatives of intensive care patients experience considerable stress that can have a long-lasting effect on their everyday lives. Relatives frequently report anxiety, depression and complicated grief as a result of their experiences in the intensive care unit. Design A qualitative design was chosen. Methods Thirteen relatives were interviewed 3 months to 1 year after the discharge or death of an intensive care unit patient. A phenomenological hermeneutical method was used to explore family members’ lived experiences upon returning home after their loved one…