TY - JOUR

T1 - Images of suffering depicted in diaries of family caregivers in the acute stage of necrotising soft tissue infection

T2 - A content analysis

AU - Egerod, Ingrid

AU - Andersson, Annette E

AU - Fagerdahl, Ann-Mari

AU - Knudsen, Vibeke E

N1 - Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

PY - 2017

Y1 - 2017

N2 - OBJECTIVES: Severe necrotising soft tissue infections (NSTI) are rare life threatening rapidly progressing bacterial infections requiring immediate diagnosis and treatment. The aim of the study was to explore the experience of family caregivers of patients with necrotising soft tissue infection during the acute stage of disease.METHODS: Our study had a qualitative descriptive binational design using qualitative content analysis to explore diaries written by close family members (n=15). Participants were recruited from university hospitals in Denmark and Sweden.FINDINGS: Three main categories emerged: Trajectory, Treatment, and Patient & Family. The first helped us construct an overview of the NSTI trajectory showing issues of importance to patient and family caregivers. The following categories were analysed further to describe four themes central to the family caregiver experience: craving information, needing to be near, suffering separation and network taking over.CONCLUSIONS: Necrotising soft tissue infections are uncommon causing shock and concern. Centralised treatment might involve physical separation of patient and family during the acute stage of illness. Family accommodations near the patient and accessibility to adequate communication devices at the bedside are recommended. Health professionals need to keep in mind the importance of information and reassurance on the wellbeing of the family and ultimately of the patient.

AB - OBJECTIVES: Severe necrotising soft tissue infections (NSTI) are rare life threatening rapidly progressing bacterial infections requiring immediate diagnosis and treatment. The aim of the study was to explore the experience of family caregivers of patients with necrotising soft tissue infection during the acute stage of disease.METHODS: Our study had a qualitative descriptive binational design using qualitative content analysis to explore diaries written by close family members (n=15). Participants were recruited from university hospitals in Denmark and Sweden.FINDINGS: Three main categories emerged: Trajectory, Treatment, and Patient & Family. The first helped us construct an overview of the NSTI trajectory showing issues of importance to patient and family caregivers. The following categories were analysed further to describe four themes central to the family caregiver experience: craving information, needing to be near, suffering separation and network taking over.CONCLUSIONS: Necrotising soft tissue infections are uncommon causing shock and concern. Centralised treatment might involve physical separation of patient and family during the acute stage of illness. Family accommodations near the patient and accessibility to adequate communication devices at the bedside are recommended. Health professionals need to keep in mind the importance of information and reassurance on the wellbeing of the family and ultimately of the patient.

KW - Acute Disease/psychology

KW - Adult

KW - Aged

KW - Aged, 80 and over

KW - Caregivers/psychology

KW - Denmark

KW - Female

KW - Hospitals, University/organization & administration

KW - Humans

KW - Intensive Care Units/organization & administration

KW - Life Change Events

KW - Male

KW - Medical Records

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Necrosis/complications

KW - Qualitative Research

KW - Soft Tissue Infections/complications

KW - Sweden

U2 - 10.1016/j.iccn.2017.02.004

DO - 10.1016/j.iccn.2017.02.004

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 28292567

VL - 41

SP - 57

EP - 62

JO - Intensive and Critical Care Nursing

JF - Intensive and Critical Care Nursing

SN - 0964-3397

ER -