Family Care Rituals in the ICU to Reduce Symptoms of PTSD in Family Members
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Offering opportunities such as family care rituals for family members to be involved with providing care for family members in the ICU was associated with reduced symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
This intervention may lessen the burden of stress-related symptoms in family members of ICU patients.
Primary outcome was symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder in family members 90 days after patient death or ICU discharge.
Secondary outcomes included symptoms of depression, anxiety, and family satisfaction. At 90-day follow-up, 131 of 226 family members (58.0%) responded preintervention and 129 of 226 family members (57.1%) responded postintervention.
Symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder were significantly higher preintervention than postintervention.