Multiple Symptoms in Family Caregivers of Intensive Care Unit Patients

Hanne B Alfheim; Leiv A Rosseland; Kristin Hofsø; Milada C Småstuen; Tone Rustøen

doi:10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2017.08.018

Multiple Symptoms in Family Caregivers of Intensive Care Unit Patients

J Pain Symptom Manage. 2018 Feb;55(2):387-394. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2017.08.018. Epub 2017 Aug 31.

Authors

Hanne B Alfheim¹, Leiv A Rosseland², Kristin Hofsø³, Milada C Småstuen⁴, Tone Rustøen⁵

Affiliations

¹ Postoperative and Intensive Care and Department of Research and Development, Division of Emergencies and Critical Care, Oslo University Hospital, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: halfheim@ous-hf.no.
² Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo and Department of Research and Development, Division of Emergencies and Critical Care, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
³ Department of Research and Development, Division of Emergencies and Critical Care, Oslo University Hospital, Norway and Lovisenberg Diaconal University College, Oslo, Norway.
⁴ Department of Public Health, Faculty of Nursing Science Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences and Department of Research and Development, Division of Emergencies and Critical Care, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
⁵ Department of Nursing Science, Institute of Health and Society, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway and Department of Research and Development, Division of Emergencies and Critical Care, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.

PMID: 28864399
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2017.08.018

Abstract

Context: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients experience physical and psychological challenges related to ICU admission in the acute and recovery phases after a critical illness. Involvement of family caregivers (FCs) is essential in the patients' struggle to survive critical illness. FCs report a high symptom burden related to ICU admission. Previous research has investigated mainly single symptoms. Little is known about multiple symptom burden related to FC experiences in an ICU.

Objective: This study aimed: 1) to describe the occurrence, severity, and distress related to multiple symptoms in FCs of ICU patients, and 2) to identify associations between the background characteristics and symptom burden of FCs.

Methods: This cross-sectional study investigated multiple symptoms in adult FCs of ICU patients. FCs completed a self-report symptom assessment questionnaire within 2 weeks after the patient's admission to the ICU.

Results: FCs (N=211) experienced a median of 9 (range 0-24) symptoms, among which, worrying (91%) was the most occurring. Severity and distress varied between symptoms. Younger age, being a spouse of an ICU patient, and having more comorbidities were significantly associated with the number of symptoms.

Conclusions: FCs of ICU patients experience multiple symptoms, among which, psychological symptoms are most occurring. Age, relationship to the patient, and comorbidities were significantly associated with the number of symptoms reported by FCs. Comprehensive symptom assessment may identify FCs who are at risk of developing a high symptom burden when the patient is admitted to the ICU.

Keywords: Family caregiver; intensive care; multiple symptoms; quality of life; worrying.

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Caregivers / psychology*
Comorbidity
Cost of Illness
Critical Care / psychology*
Critical Illness / psychology
Critical Illness / therapy
Cross-Sectional Studies
Family / psychology*
Female
Humans
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Middle Aged
Quality of Life
Risk Factors
Severity of Illness Index
Stress, Psychological / epidemiology
Stress, Psychological / etiology
Young Adult