Relatives' experiences of everyday life six months after hypothermia treatment of a significant other's cardiac arrest.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To describe relatives' experiences of needing support and information and of the impact on everyday life six months after a significant other survived cardiac arrest treated with therapeutic hypothermia at an intensive care unit. BACKGROUND: Being the relative of a cardiac arrest patient has been described as an unexpected chaotic situation. It is a unique experience because the event was unexpected, but also because of the heart disease and the uncertain neurological impact and outcome. DESIGN: The design of the study was qualitative. METHODS: Interviews with 20 relatives were conducted six months after a significant other's cardiac arrest. The interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: Three main themes were identified: 'Difficulties managing a changed life situation', 'Feeling like I come second' and 'Feeling new hope for the future'. The most common support to relatives came from family and friends, but relatives felt abandoned by healthcare personnel when the significant other was discharged from the intensive care unit and hospital. Relatives lacked information concerning prognosis, rehabilitation and follow-up. They wished to meet others in the same situation and share experiences. Relatives also felt people around them did not understand their situation. CONCLUSIONS: Everyday life was still affected six months after the event, involving increased domestic responsibilities, restrictions in social life and constant concern for the person stricken by cardiac arrest. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: The study shows that healthcare personnel need to improve provision of support and information and provide follow-up appointments for relatives to clarify prognosis and rehabilitation issues.

Relatives' experiences during the next of kin's hospital stay after surviving cardiac arrest and therapeutic hypothermia.

AIM: To describe relatives' experiences during the next of kin's hospital stay after surviving a cardiac arrest (CA) treated with hypothermia at an intensive care unit (ICU). METHODS: Twenty relatives were interviewed when the person having suffered the CA was discharged from hospital, 1.5 to 6 weeks post-CA. Data were analysed using qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: Three themes are described: The first period of chaos, Feeling secure in a difficult situation, and Living in a changed existence. Relatives found it difficult to assimilate the medical information and wanted it in written form. They wanted honest and clear information about their next of kin's condition and prognosis. They lacked rehabilitation plans after discharge from the medical ward. Relatives felt a need to maintain telephone contact with family members and friends, which was time-consuming. They felt guilty and had a conscience about these feelings. Relatives felt uncertain about the future, but still hopeful. CONCLUSION: Relatives asked for more information and individual rehabilitation plans. Booklets describing CA, the ICU stay and continuing care and rehabilitation directed at both the patients and their relatives are needed. Follow-up visits to the ICU staff, for both patients and relatives, need to be arranged. Hospitals should consider having a rehabilitation plan for this group of patients, which is presented by a team of healthcare professionals and that focuses on the individual's situation, including the consequences of their heart disease and brain damage.