Family Journaling to Reduce Stress Manifestations in Patients and Families After Critical Illness

Few studies have clearly provided evidence evaluating the effectiveness of family-written journals in reducing stress after critical illness.

Study whether critical care unit (CCU) patients and their families who participated in journaling compared to those who did not, experience lower stress manifestations after discharge.

Non-randomized controlled trial conducted with CCU patients who required mechanical ventilation for more than 24 hours and a CCU stay more than 72 hours, along with one of their family members.

At 1 and 4 months following CCU discharge, patients with family members who journaled reported fewer stress symptoms when compared to patients who did not have journals (mean Posttraumatic Stress Syndrome 14 [PTSS-14] scores 31.8 vs. 38.1 and 32.2 vs. 34.7, respectively). Family members who journaled, compared to those who did not, reported fewer stress manifestations at 1 month however not at 4 months (mean PTSS-14 scores 26.9 vs. 43.7 and 28.0 vs. 24.4, respectively). There was no significant difference in CCU memories between patient groups at 1 and 4 months.

Research is needed with larger samples however this study supports journaling as a low-cost, nurse-driven, stress reduction intervention for both patients recovering from critical illness and their family members who visit them.