Visits in an intensive care unit--an observational hermeneutic study

The aim was to interpret the interplay between critically ill patients and their next of kin in an ICU and to disclose a deeper understanding of the visiting situation.

A hermeneutic research design with non-participant observation was chosen as the data collection method. Ten observations of 10 patients and 24 loved ones over a 20-h period were conducted. The text describing the observations of the interplay was interpreted in accordance with Gadamer's thoughts. Data were analysed by considering the text as a play with scenes, actors and plots.

Due to their medical condition the patients were unable to use their bodies in the usual way, which sends different signals to their loved ones, who in turn have difficulty deciding how to respond. Both parties become, in a manner of speaking, trapped or locked out by their own bodies.

The physical environment became a hindrance to the interplay as it was designed for medical and technical use and thus did not promote healing. The professionals are important for interpreting the signals from both patients and next of kin, as well as for finding caring strategies, such as physical contact that promote interplay, which in turn strengthens connectedness.