Consolation or confrontation when interacting through an ICU diary - A phenomenological-hermeneutical study.

Area of Science:

• Medical Sociology
• Family Studies
• Qualitative Health Research

Background:

• Critically ill patients' family members often face complex emotional and relational challenges.
• Patient diaries are increasingly used as a communication and coping tool in intensive care settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore relatives' experiences of interacting with each other while writing a diary for a critically ill patient.
• To understand how shared diary authorship influences family relationships and narratives.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative interviews were conducted with seven relatives who had written a diary for a critically ill patient.
• Data analysis employed a phenomenological-hermeneutical approach, drawing on Ricoeur's theory.

Main Results:

• Co-authoring a patient diary shaped relatives' interactions and relationships.
• Diary authorship offered power to influence the narrative but could also be a significant responsibility.
• Interpersonal dynamics among relatives dictated authorship and diary content, impacting emotional sharing.

Conclusions:

• Shared diary authorship can empower relatives to integrate the illness experience into personal and family narratives.
• Challenging family relationships can impede emotional expression and hinder successful co-creation of patient diaries, leading to distress.