Bakgrund: Att genomgå hjärtkirurgi kan rädda en patients liv men det kan även leda till en ökad risk att drabbas av en komplikation som postoperativt delirium. Delirium är inte ett sjukdomstillstånd utan ett tillstånd av mental förvirring som påverkar patientens uppmärksamhet, medvetenhet och kognitiva förmåga. Postoperativt delirium kan leda till många negativa konsekvenser vilket kan medföra lidande för patienten. Vården ska ha som mål att lindra patientens lidande genom att se till hela patienten i den vårdande relationen, det är det som är kärnan i vårdvetenskap. Forskning har visat att det är viktigt för patientens postoperativa återhämtning att tidigt kunna upptäcka och förebygga postoperativt delirium. Det har framkommit att intensivvårdssjuksköterskor behöver ha ökad förståelse och kunskap om ämnet för att kunna upptäcka och förebygga postoperativt delirium efter hjärtkirurgi. Syfte: Syftet med studien är att identifiera riskfaktorer som kan påverka utvecklingen av postoperativt delirium bland intensivvårdspatienter efter hjärtkirurgi. Metod: En systematisk litteraturstudie där kvantitativa artiklar har analyserats efter Bettany-Saltikov och McSherry (2016) analysmetod. Resultat: Analysen resulterade i fyra kategorier: Patientens bakgrund, Tiden i hjärt-lungmaskin, Längden av respiratorbehandling samt Komplikationer till följd av hjärtkirurgi som är riskfaktorer som visade sig påverka utvecklingen av postoperativt delirium. Slutsats: Den samlade kunskapen som föreliggande studie har givit kan ligga till grund för intensivvårdssjuksköterskor i vården av patienter med postoperativt delirium. Intensivvårdssjuksköterskor ska ha med sig i den vårdande relationen att patientens situation är komplex och att det de utsätts för kan bidra till ökat lidande för patienten. Mer forskning behövs kring riskfaktorer för postoperativt delirium och hur den mentala förvirringen påverkar patienten och dess anhöriga. / Background: Heart surgery can save a patient's life but can also lead to an increased risk of suffering from a complication such as postoperative delirium. Delirium is not an illness but a state of mental confusion that affects the patient's attention, awareness and cognitive ability. Postoperative delirium can lead to many negative consequences which can cause patient suffering. Nursing care has aimed to alleviate a patient's suffering by seeing the entire patient in the caring relationship. This is the core in nursing science. Research has shown that it is important for the patient's postoperative recovery to be able to detect and prevent postoperative delirium in an early stage. It has appeared that intensive care nurses need more education and knowledge in this area in order to be able to detect and prevent postoperative delirium after heart surgery. Aim: The aim of the study is to identify risk factors that are associated with the development of postoperative delirium after heart surgery within patients in the intensive care unit. Method: A systematic literature review that analyzed quantitative articles according to a method of analysis by Bettany-Saltikov and McSherry (2016). Result: Four categories emerged from the analysis: Patients background, length of mechanical ventilation, Heart- and lung machine duration and Complications after heart surgery that were risk factors which affected the development of postoperative delirium. Conclusion: The overall knowledge that the study has provided can form a basis for intensive care nurses in the care of patients with postoperative delirium. Further research is needed on risk factors for postoperative delirium and how the mental confusion affects both the patient and relatives. More research is also needed about how postoperative delirium can be prevented.

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No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Nádia Ferreira Gonçalves - 2013.pdf: 1051840 bytes, checksum: 75498ee692a1a652339e16003a0de36c (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-10-21 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / Compliance with preventive measures by health professionals is a large challenge, and it is believed that in the intensive care unit, especially those classified as neonatal and pediatric, contamination of goods, equipment, and environmental surfaces contribute significantly to the increased epidemiology of healthcare associated infections (HAIs). The objective of this study was to analyze the epidemiological and microbiological profiles of tools, equipment, and ambient surfaces contaminated with antimicrobial resistant Staphylococcus spp. in neonatal and pediatric intensive care units. It is a cross-sectional epidemiological study carried out from August 2011 to September 2012, in a neonatal and pediatric intensive care unit specializing in maternal and child health of the public health system in GoiâniaGoiás, Brazil. Samples were collected using sterile swabs moistened with saline solution 0.9%, which were subjected to microbiological processing consisting of isolation, identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Analysis and interpretation of results followed. Of the 137 samples, 1 02 were identified as Staphylococcus spp. and, in six of the 12 incubators, different strains of these microorganisms were isolated, totaling 108 isolates. Among the isolates, only four were identified as Staphylococcus aureus, and the remaining 104 were coagulasenegative Staphylococcus. During the processing of isolates it was revealed that 74.5% of the tools, surfaces and equipment were infected by Staphylococcus spp., and of these, more than 80% were resistant to antimicrobials. In four, MLSB phenotype was detected. As for oxacillin-resistant isolates, 82.3 % had resistance confirmed by Etest®. Upon completion of the analysis, it became clear that the tools, surfaces and equipment used in pediatric neonatal intensive care units are reservoirs of bacteria. This immediately highlights an important contributor to the epidemiology of HAIs: compliance with procedure for the safety of infants and healthcare workers, since these findings signal gaps in the work process and therefore in the processing of these items. Therefore, it is believed that the perception of the professionals who work in health facilities (related to the risks of cross-contamination) is of unique value to understanding the need to adopt safe work practices. It is hoped, that contributing to the development of other studies, with the goal of identifying possible gaps, involving both the management of the service and standard operating procedures for the cleaning and disinfection of ambient surfaces, tools and equipment in compliance with guidelines. / A adesão às medias preventivas pelos profissionais de saúde é um amplo desafio e, acredita-se que na unidade de terapia intensiva, em especial nas de caráter neonatal e pediátrico, a contaminação de artigos, superfícies ambientais e equipamentos contribua expressivamente para o avanço da cadeia epidemiológica das Infecções Reacionadas à Assistência à Saúde (IrAS). Objetivou-se neste estudo analisar os aspectos epidemiológicos e microbiológicos de artigos, superfícies ambientais e equipamentos contaminados por Staphylococcus spp. resistentes aos antimicrobianos em unidades de terapia intensiva neonatal e pediátrica. Trata-se de um estudo epidemiológico tipo transversal desenvolvido de agosto de 2011 a setembro de 201 2, nas unidades de terapia intensiva neonatal e pediátrica de uma instituição especializada em saúde materna e infantil do Sistema Único de Saúde de Goiânia-Goiás, Brasil. Os dados foram obtidos por meio de swab, coletou-se amostras biológicas dos artigos, superfícies ambientais e equipamentos existentes nas unidades selecionadas para estudo. Realizou-se fricção bidirecional com swab estéril umedecido em solução salina a 0,9%; em seguida foi feito o processamento laboratorial dos espécimes, com isolamento, identificação e teste de suscetibilidade dos micro-organismos aos antimicrobianos; por fim, a análise e interpretação dos resultados. Das 1 37 amostras, em 1 02 foram identificados Staphylococcus spp. sendo que, em seis das 12 incubadoras foram isoladas diferentes cepas desses micro-organismos, totalizando 1 08 isolados. Dentre os isolados, apenas quatro foram identificados como Staphylococcus aureus, e os 104 restantes de Stafilococos coagulase negativo. Durante o processamento dos isolados, verificou-se que 74,5% dos artigos, superfícies e equipamentos se encontravam contaminados por Staphylococcus spp., destes mais de 80%, resistentes aos antimicrobianos testados. Mas em apenas quatro foi detectado o fenótipo resistente a macrolídeos, lincosamidas e estreptogramina B (MLSB). Quanto aos isolados resistentes à oxacilina, 82,3% tiveram a resistência confirmada pelo Epsilometer Test (Etest®). Ao concluir as análises, evidenciou-se que artigos, superfícies e equipamentos de unidades de terapia intensiva neonatal e pediátrica, são reservatórios de bactérias. Logo, representam importante papel na cadeia epidemiológica das IrAS, o que configura inconformidades com a segurança do recém nascido e do trabalhador, uma vez que, esses achados sinalizam falhas no processo de trabalho e consequentemente no processamento desses artefatos. Nessa direção, acreditase que a percepção dos profissionais que laboram em estabelecimentos de saúde relacionada aos riscos de contaminação cruzada é de singular valor para compreenderem a necessidade de adotarem atitudes seguras no ato laboral. Espera-se ainda, contribuir com o desenvolvimento de outros estudos, com o objetivo de compreender as possíveis falhas envolvendo o tanto a gestão do serviço, quanto aos processos de trabalho e de limpeza e desinfecção das superfícies ambientais, artigos e equipamentos em conformidade com as diretrizes.

SAMMANFATTNING   Bakgrund: Tidigare studier visar att patienter påverkas både fysiskt och psykiskt vid överflyttning från en miljö till en annan. Att överflyttas från den specialiserade, högteknologiska intensivvårdsavdelningen till en vårdavdelning kan skapa upplevelser och känslor av stress, oro, ångest, osäkerhet, depression, sömnstörningar, minnesbortfall, mardrömmar med mera. Syfte: Att utforska hur miljöns utformning för vårdandet påverkar patientens välbefinnande efter överflyttning från intensivvårdsavdelning till kirurgisk vårdavdelning. Metod: Syftet besvarades med hjälp av upprepade observationer med informella intervjuer av tre patienter som hade vårdats på en intensivvårdsavdelning och hade överflyttats till en kirurgisk vårdavdelning. Deduktiv innehållsanalys användes och utgick från en tidigare skapad modell av begreppet miljö. Resultat: Patienternas välbefinnande påverkades av miljön efter överflytten till den kirurgiska vårdavdelningen. Resultatet presenteras efter modellens kategorier atmosfär, omvärld, omgivning, medelpunkt och förhållande. Slutsats: Att överflyttas till en lägre vårdnivå som en vårdavdelning är en stor omställning för patienterna både fysiskt och psykiskt. Resultatet stödjer att det finns en kunskapslucka som består av skillnader i miljön, skillnader i sjuksköterskors kompetens och skillnader i kommunikationen mellan intensivvårdsavdelningar och vårdavdelningar. Det är viktigt att tydliga rutiner finns kring hur en intensivvårdspatient ska tas emot och vårdas vid överflyttningen till en vårdavdelning. För att miljöombytet inte ska bli för omfattande för patienten kan överflyttning först ske till en intermediärvårdsavdelning innan vidare överflyttning till en vårdavdelning sker. / ABSTRACT Background: Previous studies showed that patients are affected both physically and mentally when they transferring from one environment to another. To be transferred from the specialized, high-tech intensive care to a ward can create experiences and feelings of stress, worry, anxiety, insecurity, depression, sleep disorders, memory loss, and nightmares with more. Aim: The aim of this study was to explore how environmental design for care affects the patient's well-being after transfer from intensive care to the surgical ward. Method: The aim was answered with help from repeated observations with informal interviews with three patients who had been treated in an intensive care unit and had been transferred to a surgical ward. Deductive content analysis was used and was based on a previously created model. Result: The patients' well-being was affected by the environment after transfer to the surgical ward. The results are presented according to the categories atmosphere, entourage, surroundings, midpoint and relationship. Conclusion: Be transferred to a lower level of care as a ward is a big change for the patients both physically and psychologically. The result supports that there is a knowledge gap which consist of differences in the environment, differences in nurses' skills and differences in communication between intensive care units and wards. It is important that there are clear procedures on how an intensive care patient to be received and cared for at the transfer to a ward. To move from one environment to another should not be too extensive for the patient can first be transfer place to an Intermediate Care Facility before further transfer to a ward occurs.

Bakgrund: År 2012 skapades Sveriges första nationella program och kunskapsstöd för palliativ vård. Den palliativa vården finns beskriven av Socialstyrelsen utifrån fyra hörnstenar, symtomlindring, multiprofessionellt samarbete, stöd till anhöriga samt kommunikation och relation. Det är oftast sjuksköterskan som identifierar behovet av palliation, men läkaren är den som fattar beslutet om palliation ska påbörjas. Detta kan vara en lång process och orsaka barnet onödigt lidande. Syfte: Att beskriva sjuksköterskans erfarenheter av att avsluta livsuppehållande behandling för att övergå till palliativ vård på barnintensiven. Metod: Studien genomfördes som en kvalitativ intervjustudie. Sex individuella semistrukturerade intervjuer med utbildade intensivvårdssjuksköterskor på en barnintensivvårdsavdelning i Sverige genomfördes. Dessa analyserades med utgångspunkt från Elo och Kygnäs metod för kvalitativ innehållsanalys och utmynnade i tre huvudkategorier. Resultat: Sjuksköterskornas erfarenheter av att avbryta livsuppehållande vård för att övergå till palliativ vård presenterades i resultatet utifrån tre huvudkategorier, Det oåterkalleliga livet, Sista tiden av livet samt Vad kan sjuksköterskan göra för anhöriga?. Slutsats: Att avbryta livsuppehållande vård för att övergå till palliativ vård är ett komplext och etiskt svårt beslut. / Background: In 2012 Sweden created its first natinal program and knowledge base for palliative care. Palliative care is described by the Swedish National Board through four bases, symptom relifes, multi-professional cooperation, support to relatives, and communication and relationship. It is usually the nurse that identifies the need for palliation, but the doctor is the one that makes the decision to begin palliative care. This can be a long process and cause the child unnecessary suffering. Aim: To describe the intensive care nurses experiences in ending life support and the transition to palliative care of children intensive care. Method: The study was conducted as a qualitative interview study. Six individual semi-structured interviews with intensive care nurses at a childrens intensive care unit in Sweden was carried out . These interviews were analyzed on the basis of Elo and Kygnäs method of qualitative content analysis and resulted in three main categories. Result: The nurses' experiences of withdrawing lifesustaining treatment and the transition to palliative care was presented in the result within three main categories, ”The irrevocable life”, ”The end of life” and ”What can the nurse do for the family?”. Conclusion: To discontinue life-sustaining care and transition to palliative care is a complex and difficult ethical decision.

Critically ill patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) commonly develop severe muscle wasting and weakness and consequently impaired muscle function. This not only delays respirator weaning and ICU discharge, but has deleterious effects on morbidity, mortality, financial costs, and quality of life of survivors. Acute Quadriplegic Myopathy (AQM) is one of the most common neuromuscular disorders underlying ICU muscle wasting and paralysis, and is a consequence of modern intensive care interventions, although the exact causes remain unclear. Muscle gene/protein expression, intracellular signalling, post-translational modifications, muscle membrane excitability, and contractile properties at the single muscle fibre level were explored in order to unravel the mechanisms underlying the muscle wasting and weakness associated with AQM and how this can be counteracted by specific intervention strategies. A unique experimental rat ICU model was used to address the mechanistic and therapeutic aspects of this condition, allowing time-resolved studies for a period of two weeks. Subsequently, the findings obtained from this model were translated into a clinical study. The obtained results showed that the mechanical silencing of skeletal muscle, i.e., absence of external strain (weight bearing) and internal strain (myosin-actin activation) due to the pharmacological paralysis or sedation associated with the ICU intervention, is likely to be the primary mechanism triggering the preferential myosin loss and muscle wasting, features specifically characteristic of AQM. Moreover, mechanical silencing induces a specific gene expression pattern as well as post-translational modifications in the motor domain of myosin that may be critical for both function and for triggering proteolysis. The higher nNOS expression found in the ICU patients and its cytoplasmic dislocation are indicated as a probable mechanism underlying these highly specific modifications. This work also demonstrated that passive mechanical loading is able to attenuate the oxidative stress associated with the mechanical silencing and induces positive effects on muscle function, i.e., alleviates the loss of force-generating capacity that underlie the ICU intervention, supporting the importance of early physical therapy in immobilized, sedated, and mechanically ventilated ICU patients.

Cardiovascular disease is a large problem in the intensive care unit (ICU) due to its high prevalence in modern society. In the ICU, intensive monitoring is required to help diagnose cardiac and circulatory dysfunction. However, complex interactions between the patient, disease, and treatment can hide the underlying disorder. As a result, clinical staff must often rely on their skill, intuition, and experience to choose therapy, increasing variability in care and patient outcome. To simplify this clinical scenario, model-based methods have been created to track subject-specific disease and treatment dependent changes in patient condition, using only clinically available measurements. The approach has been tested in two pig studies on acute pulmonary embolism and septic shock and in a human study on surgical recovery from mitral valve replacement. The model-based method was able to track known pathophysiological changes in the subjects and identified key determinants of cardiovascular health such as cardiac preload, afterload, and contractility. These metrics, which can be otherwise difficult to determine clinically, can be used to help provide targets for goal-directed therapies to help provide deliver the optimal level of therapy to the patient. Hence, this model-based approach provides a feasible and potentially practical means of improving patient care in the ICU.

Critically ill patients often exhibit abnormal glycaemia that can lead to severe complications and potentially death. In critically ill adults, hyperglycaemia is a common problem that has been associated with increased morbidity and mortality. In contrast, critically ill infants often suffer from hypoglycaemia, which may cause seizures and permanent brain injury. Further complicating the matter, both of these conditions are diagnosed by blood glucose (BG) measurements, often taken several hours apart, and, as a result, these conditions can remain poorly managed or go completely undetected. Emerging ‘continuous’ glucose monitoring (CGM) devices with 1-5 minute measurement intervals have the potential to resolve many issues associated with conventional intermittent BG monitoring. The objective of this research was to investigate and develop methods and models to optimise the clinical use of CGM devices in critically ill patients. For critically ill adults, an in-silico study was conducted to quantify the potential benefits of introducing CGM devices into the intensive care unit (ICU). Mathematical models of CGM error characteristics were implemented with existing, clinically validated, models of the insulin-glucose regulatory system, to simulate the behaviour of CGM devices in critically ill patients. An alarm algorithm was also incorporated to provide a warning at the onset of predicted hypoglycaemia, allowing a virtual dextrose intervention to be administered as a preventative measure. The results of the in-silico study showed a potential reduction in nurse workload of approximately 75% and a significant reduction in hypoglycaemia, while also providing insight into the optimal rescue dose size and resulting dynamics of glucose recovery. During 2012, ten patients were recruited into a pilot clinical trial of CGM devices in critical care with a primary goal of assessing the reliability of CGM devices in this environment, with a specific interest in the effects of CGM device type and sensor site on sensor glucose (SG) data. Results showed the mean absolute relative difference of SG data across the cohort was between 12-24% and CGM devices were capable of monitoring some patients with a high degree of accuracy. However, certain illnesses, drugs and therapies can potentially affect sensor performance, and one particular set of results suggested severe oedema may have affected sensor performance. A novel and first of its kind metric, the Trend Compass was developed and used to assesses trend accuracy of SG in a mathematically precise fashion without approximation, and, importantly, does so independent of glucose level or sensor bias, unlike any other such metrics. In this analysis, the trend accuracy between CGM devices was typically good. A recent hypothesis suggesting that glucose complexity is associated with mortality was also investigated using the clinical CGM data. The results showed that complexity results from detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA) were influenced far more by CGM device type than patient outcome. In addition, the location of CGM sensors had no significant effect on complexity results in this data set. Thus, while this emerging analytical method has shown positive results in the literature, this analysis indicates that those results may be misleading given the impact of technology outweighing that of physiology. This particular result helps to further delineate the range of potential applications and insight that CGM devices might offer in this clinical scenario. In critically ill infants, CGM devices were used to investigate hypoglycaemia during the first 48 hours after birth. More than 50 CGM data sets were obtained from several studies of CGM in infants at risk of hypoglycaemia at the Waikato hospital neonatal ICU (NICU). In light of concerns regarding CGM accuracy, particularly during the first few hours of monitoring and/or at low BG levels, an alternative, novel calibration scheme was developed to increase the reliability of SG data. The recalibration algorithm maximised the value of very accurate calibration BG measurements from a blood gas analyser (BGA), by forcing SG data to pass through these calibration BG measurements. Recalibration increased all metrics of hypoglycaemia (number, duration, severity and hypoglycaemic index) as the factory CGM calibration was found to be reporting higher values at low BG levels due to its least squares calibration approach based on the assumption of a less accurate calibration glucose meter. Thus, this research defined new calibration methods to directly optimise the use of CGM devices in this clinical environment, where accurate reference BG measurements are available. Furthermore, this work showed that metrics such as duration or area under curve were far more robust to error than the typically used counted-incidence metrics, indicating how clinical assessment may have to change when using these devices. The impact of errors in calibration measurements on metrics used to classify hypoglycaemia was also assessed. Across the cohort, measurement error, particularly measurement bias, had a larger effect on hypoglycaemia metrics than delays in entering calibration measurements. However, for patients with highly variable glycaemia, timing error can have a significantly larger impact on output SG data than measurement error. Unusual episodes of hypoglycaemia could be successfully identified using a stochastic model, based on kernel density estimation, providing another level of information to aid decision making when assessing hypoglycaemia. Using the developed algorithms/tools, with CGM data from 161 infants, the incidence of hypoglycaemia was assessed and compared to results determined using BG measurements alone. Results from BG measurements showed that ~17% of BG measurements identified hypoglycaemia and over 80% of episodes occurred in the first day after birth. However, with concurrent BG and SG data available, the SG data consistently identified hypoglycaemia at a higher rate suggesting the BG measurements were not capturing some episodes. Duration of hypoglycaemia in SG data varied from 0-10+%, but was typically in the range 4-6%. Hypoglycaemia occurred most frequently on the first day after birth and an optimal measurement protocol for at risk infants would likely involve CGM for the first week after birth with frequent intermittent BG measurements for the first day. Overall, CGM devices have the potential to increase the understanding of certain glycaemic abnormalities and aid in the diagnosis/treatment of other conditions in critically ill patients. This research has used a range of prospective and retrospective clinical studies to develop methods to further optimise the use of CGM devices within the critically ill clinical environment, as well as delineating where they are less useful or less robust. These latter results clearly define areas where clinical practice needs to adapt when using these devices, as well as areas where device makers could target technological improvements for best effect. Although further investigations are required before these devices are regularly implemented in day-to-day clinical practice, as an observational tool they are capable of providing useful information that is not currently available with conventional intermittent BG monitoring.

Background: Getting admitted to CCU is viewed as a stressful event by patients. However, numerous studies have indicated that nurses do not always accurately perceive the stressors of their clients. Therefore, it is important for nurses to know what seems most stressful from the patients‘ perspective so that appropriate nursing measures can be directed towards minimizing such stressors. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to explore the perception of CCU stressors experienced by patients from both patients and nurses perspective and to compare between them, identify the effect of socio-demographic characteristics of participant's on the level of stress perception and to what extent clinical guidelines fulfil CCU needs. Methodology: A mixed method approach (qualitative and quantitative) was applied. Purposive random sampling was used to recruit data. Ethical approval was obtained prior to data collection. Data was collected from three CCUs within the West and Northwest NHS Trusts. Participants who met the inclusion criteria were interviewed and asked to rank the Environmental Stressor Questionnaire (ESQ). Qualitative data was analyzed using Gorgi's method of analysis. A quantitative data was analyzed using the SPSS software version 15. Results: There was some consistency in the data where patients and nurses provided same ranking for CCU stressors. Consistently nurses ranked physiological stressors higher than psychological stressors. Patients showed consistency in the findings between what they ranked in the ESQ and their narratives more than their counterparts. Perception of stress was affected by participant's socio-demographic characteristics. A key finding is that the current guidelines do not serve patients and nurses needs. Conclusions: Nurses should be well equipped with knowledge and experience to overcome stressful situations. Educational programs should be made available for nurses to improve stress management. Nurses should assess patient's needs by applying effectively communication skills.

Uppmärksamhet och stöd till intensivvårdspatienters anhöriga kan ibland bli begränsad då sjuksköterskan ofta fokuserar på patientens behov och glömmer bort de anhöriga. Eftersom möten med anhöriga sker frekvent inom sjuksköterskeyrket är det därför viktigt att sjuksköterskan har insikt och förståelse för vad anhöriga upplever som stödjande. På en intensivvårdsavdelning är tillståndet hos patienten ofta kritiskt och de anhöriga behöver stöd för att hantera, förstå och anpassa sig till situationen. Syftet med den strukturerade litteraturstudien är att belysa anhörigas upplevelser av sjuksköterskans stöd inom intensivvård. Sammanlagt har 10 vetenskapliga artiklar såväl med kvalitativ och kvantitativ ansats analyserats tematiskt och analysen gav fyra kategorier, Tillit och förtroende, Närvaro och delaktighet, Tröst och empati samt Tillgänglighet och kontinuitet. Sammanfattningsvis finns det ett stort behov av att få stöd som anhörig. De anhöriga är i allmänhet nöjda med stödet de får av sjuksköterskan inom intensivvården men det behövs ytterligare forskning om vad för stöd som behövs samt hur stödet upplevs av de anhöriga. / The attention and support given to family members at the Intensive Care Unit can sometimes be limited due to that the nurses often focus on the patient's needs and forget about family members needs. Since nurses meet family members on a daily basis it is important for them to know what family members find supportive. The condition of patients at the intensive care unit is often critical and family members need support to cope, understand and adapt to the situation. The aim of the study was to highlight family members´ experiences of support from nurses at the intensive care unit. A structured literature review was conducted in which 10 articles with both qualitative and quantitative design underwent thematic analysis. The analysis gave four categories: Trust and reliance, Presence and participation, Comfort and empathy and Availability and continuity. To sum up; family members at the Intensive Care Unit have a great need of support. Family members are in general satisfied with the support, but there is need for more research in what kind of support they require and how family members experience the support.

Bakgrund:Att vara anhöriga till en person med psykisk sjukdom medför ofta en egen försämrad psykisk hälsa samt kan vara både tidskrävande och kostsamt. Känslor av skuld och skam samt stigmatisering från omvärlden är vanligt förekommande. Anhöriga önskar delaktighet i vården men exkluderas ofta. Det finns nationella riktlinjer och lagar som betonar vikten av anhörigas delaktighet, trots detta upplevs anhöriga ofta påträngande. De finns lite kunskap om anhörigas kontakt med psykiatriska intensivvårdsavdelningar. Syfte:Syftet med denna studie var att beskriva sjuksköterskors erfarenheter av möten med anhöriga på psykiatriska intensivvårdsavdelningar Metod:Studien har en kvalitativ design med induktiv ansats. Sju sjuksköterskor på psykiatriska intensivvårdsavdelningar i Sverige intervjuades enligt semistrukturerade metod. Materialet analyserades med kvalitativ innehållsanalys. Resultat:Resultatet från intervjuerna utmynnade i fyra kategorier: Organisatoriska förutsättningar för att möta anhöriga, Olika syn på anhöriga, Utmaningar i mötet med anhöriga samt Att möta och kommunicera med anhöriga. Diskussion:Resultatet i studien diskuteras i relation till tidigare forskning och Andersheds teori om Delaktighet i Ljuset – Delaktighet i mörkret. I resultatet framkom aspekter som kan tänkas leda till både delaktighet i ljuset och i mörkret. / Background: Being a relative to someone with mental disorder often causes a decreased mental health and can be both time-consuming and costly. Feelings of guilt and shame and stigmatization from the surroundings are common. Relatives’ wishes to participate in care but often get excluded. National guidelines and laws emphasize the importance of relatives’ participation; despite this relatives' often get perceived as intrusive. Little is known about relatives contact with psychiatric intensive care units. Aim: The aim of this study was to describe nurses’ experiences from meeting relatives at psychiatric intensive care units. Method: This study has a qualitative design with an inductive approach. Seven nurses at psychiatric intensive care units in Sweden were interviewed with semistructured method. The material was analyzed using a qualitative content analysis. Results: The result from the interviews developed into four categories: Organizational requirements to meet relatives, Different views on relatives, Challenges in the meeting with relatives, and To meet and communicate with relatives. Discussions: The result is being discussed in relation to previous research and Andershed's theory of Involvement in the light – Involvement in the dark. In the result aspects emerged that can lead to both participation in the light and in the darkness.