Intensive care unit diaries to help bereaved family members in their grieving process: a systematic review

Abstract

Background: Intensive care unit diaries are often used to support patients during their psychological recovery. The intensive care unit stay can be upsetting, disturbing and traumatic for both patients and their families especially when the patient does not survive.

Aim: To investigate the connection between intensive care unit diaries and the grieving process experienced by family members of adult patients deceased in the intensive care unit.

Methods: Systematic literature review according to PRISMA guidelines: PubMed, CINAHL and Cochrane Library were consulted. The Caldwell's framework was used for the quality appraisal.

Results: Only six studies examine this topic. The potential benefits of intensive care unit diaries in family members' bereavement process may be an aid to realise how extremely ill their loved one was, may provide comfort and may help relatives to cope with their loss.

Conclusion: The use of intensive care unit diaries to help family members' bereavement process may be a useful tool but further research is necessary to better understand their role and benefits.

Keywords: Bereavement; Critical care nursing; Diary; End of life; Family members; Grieving process; Intensive care; Relatives; Systematic review.