[Relatives in intensive care units: (Un)Satisfied needs].

Area of Science:

• Critical Care Medicine
• Psychosocial Support
• Patient and Family Care

Background:

• Relatives of intensive care unit (ICU) patients experience significant unmet supportive care needs.
• These needs are often cognitive, emotional, social, and pragmatic, impacting family well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe stress factors and supportive care needs of ICU patients' relatives.
• To assess the empirical evidence for these needs and the efficacy of interventions.
• To provide recommendations for psychosocial support and communication.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of articles and meta-analyses.
• Discussion of qualitative and quantitative research findings.
• Inclusion of expert recommendations.

Main Results:

• Relatives report numerous unmet needs, including maintaining hope, security, and receiving tailored communication.
• Sociodemographic and cultural factors influence the prioritization of these needs.
• Psychoeducational interventions and effective communication strategies reduce psychosocial distress, anxiety, depression, and PTSD risk in family members.

Conclusions:

• Healthcare professionals require enhanced awareness of relatives' needs and their own defense mechanisms.
• Improving communicative competence and addressing subjective experiences is crucial.
• Recommending and encouraging utilization of psychosocial support services is vital.