Family Members' Experiences of Weaning From Mechanical Ventilation in Intensive Care: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological...

Weaning patients from mechanical ventilation is a complex process that also affects family members, yet their perspectives remain understudied.

To explore the lived experiences of family members of patients being weaned from mechanical ventilation in intensive care.

A qualitative, deductive design was used, inspired by the hermeneutic phenomenological research method described by van Manen.

Eight family members were purposively included. The data collection consisted of personal diary notes, written during the patients' weaning phase, and individual semi-structured interviews conducted after patient discharge from intensive care.

The findings were related to meaningfulness and inherent strength experienced by the family members, which were enhanced by being present at the bedside, near the patient, and involved in care. Family members shaped a temporary structure for their new everyday lives and experienced hope when thinking about the future.

This study explores the lived experiences of family members, emphasising the importance of being near the patient, touching, maintaining contact, and communicating. Family members wish to be involved according to their preferences and capabilities. Such involvement creates meaningfulness, which further promotes family members' inherent strength. Healthcare professionals play a vital role, highlighting the advantages of adopting a person-centred approach towards the family members by considering their resources, capabilities, and suffering, which vary over time and among different persons. To care for family members during patient weaning, healthcare professionals need to understand their needs and contributions, making the delivery of person-centred care essential. This study highlights that person-centred care extends beyond the patient to include family members. Recognising and supporting families as active partners in the weaning process is essential, as their involvement strengthens the well-being of both patients and families.

Healthcare professionals should recognise family members as active partners in the weaning process and adapt person-centred care to their individual needs and capacities.

Only the family members of the patients were involved in the study.

This study adhered to the COREQ criteria.