ArticlePloS one2014
Writing in and reading ICU diaries: qualitative study of families' experience in the ICU.
Article in PloS one, 2014. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 29 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
29 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Humanizing and dehumanizing intensive care: Thematic synthesis (HumanIC).Journal of advanced nursing · 2023Pooled it
- Exploring family members' and health care professionals' perceptions on ICU diaries: a systematic review and qualitative data synthesis.Intensive care medicine · 2021Pooled it
- The impact of intensive care unit diaries on patients' and relatives' outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Critical care (London, England) · 2019Pooled it
- [Diaries for intensive care unit patients reduce the risk for psychological sequelae : Systematic literature review and meta-analysis].Medizinische Klinik, Intensivmedizin und Notfallmedizin · 2019Pooled it
- Uptake and impact of journaling program on wellbeing of NICU parents.Journal of perinatology : official journal of the California Perinatal Association · 2021Trial
- Trial
- Hidden Burden of ICU: Patient-Perceived Stressors After Cardiothorasic Surgery.Journal of clinical medicine · 2026Article
- Article
- Family members' experiences with intensive care unit diaries.BMC anesthesiology · 2025Article
- Post-Intensive Care Syndrome as a Burden for Patients and Their Caregivers: A Narrative Review.Journal of clinical medicine · 2024Review
- Factors affecting perceived caregiver burden: caregivers of trauma patients discharged from the intensive care unit.Proceedings (Baylor University. Medical Center) · 2024Article
- Thematic analysis of intensive care unit diaries kept by staff: insights for caring.Intensive & critical care nursing · 2023Article
- Exploring family caregiver challenges in caring for patients with COVID-19 in intensive care units.Frontiers in public health · 2023Article
- Patient-Centered and Family-Centered Care in the Intensive Care Unit.Clinics in chest medicine · 2022Review
- Experiences of nurses with an innovative digital diary intervention in the intensive care unit: A qualitative exploration.Intensive & critical care nursing · 2022Article
- "Humanizing intensive care: A scoping review (HumanIC)".Nursing ethics · 2022Article
- Making Family-Centered Care for Adults in the ICU a Reality.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2022Article
- ICU Survivors Experience of ICU Diaries: An Ancillary Qualitative Analysis of the ICU Diary Study.Critical care explorations · 2021Article
- UK consultants' experiences of the decision-making process around referral to intensive care: an interview study.BMJ open · 2021Article
- Improving patient diary use in intensive care: A quality improvement report.Journal of the Intensive Care Society · 2021Article
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Authors and funding
9 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
purposeKeeping an ICU patient diary has been reported to benefit the patient's recovery. Here, we investigated the families' experience with reading and writing in patient ICU diaries kept by both the family and the staff.
methodsWe conducted a qualitative study involving 32 semi-structured in-depth interviews of relatives of 26 patients (34% of all family members who visited patients) who met our ICU-diary criterion, i.e., ventilation for longer than 48 hours. Grounded theory was used to conceptualise the interview data via a three-step coding process (open coding, axial coding, and selective coding).
resultsCommunicative, emotional, and humanising experiences emerged from our data. First, family members used the diaries to access, understand, and assimilate the medical information written in the diaries by staff members, and then to share this information with other family members. Second, the diaries enabled family members to maintain a connection with the patient by documenting their presence and expressing their love and affection. Additionally, families confided in the diaries to maintain hope. Finally, family members felt the diaries humanized the medical staff and patient.
conclusionsOur findings indicate positive effects of diaries on family members. The diaries served as a powerful tool to deliver holistic patient- and family-centered care despite the potentially dehumanising ICU environment. The diaries made the family members aware of their valuable role in caring for the patient and enhanced their access to and comprehension of medical information. Diaries may play a major role in improving the well-being of ICU-patient families.
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