The Development, Acceptability and Suitability of an Information and Well-Being Booklet for Family Members of...

Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission is a highly stressful and often unexpected experience for family members, frequently resulting in significant psychological distress and ongoing caregiving burden. Despite widespread awareness and recognition of these needs, structured psychosocial interventions for family members remain limited. In response, a family well-being intervention was developed within a UK ICU psychology service, incorporating a clinician-delivered psychoeducational and support programme alongside an information and well-being booklet. This study evaluated the booklet prior to implementation.

To explore family members' perceptions of the newly developed ICU information and well-being booklet, focusing on its usefulness, accessibility and acceptability and to inform refinement prior to clinical implementation.

A qualitative design was adopted. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with five family members of patients previously admitted to ICU in a London hospital. Participants were purposively sampled and reviewed the booklet during interviews conducted via Microsoft Teams. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.

Four overarching themes were identified: (1) Information as Emotional Containment and Orientation; (2) Communication as Containment and Validation; (3) Preparation for Transitions and Recovery Beyond ICU; and (4) The Overlooked Burden: Acknowledging Carers' Well-being. Participants described the booklet as accessible, clear and emotionally containing. It was perceived to reduce uncertainty, validate emotional responses, support communication with staff and provide anticipatory guidance regarding recovery and transitions. Family members particularly valued explicit recognition of caregiver distress and permission to prioritise self-care.

The ICU psychoeducation and well-being booklet was perceived as a useful and acceptable resource that addresses both informational and psychological needs of family members.

Beyond information provision, findings suggest the booklet may function as a psychologically containing and orienting tool during periods of acute uncertainty.