Abstract

WOINAROVICZ, Beatriz Patricia  and  MOREIRA, Mariana Calesso. Coping Strategies Used by Relatives of Patients in ICU: A Systematic Review of the Literature. Rev. SBPH [online]. 2020, vol.23, n.2, pp.126-138. ISSN 1516-0858.

The intensive care unit (ICU) is characterized as an environment dedicated to the care of patients with severe illnesses. For the family, ICU hospitalization tends to be characterized as a period of distress and for that, family members use coping strategies. OBJECTIVE: to identify the coping strategies used by family members of patients hospitalized in intensive care units, through a systematic review of the literature. METHODOLOGY: Virtual Health Library, Pubmed and Scielo publications, published in English, Portuguese and Spanish languages, between January 2008 and June 2020 with the descriptors "Family", "Intensive Care Units" and "Coping". RESULTS: From these studies, eleven scientific articles were included in the review. The results show that coping strategies focused on the problem are the most used by family members. The coping focused on emotion, religion and social support have emerged as ways for family members to minimize suffering and deal with hospitalization. Avoidance coping is linked to the development of post-traumatic stress disorder. CONCLUSION: in the hospital context it is necessary for health professionals to be attentive to coping styles so that focal interventions can be performed aiming at a greater adaptation of the family members.

Keywords : coping; family; intensive care unit.

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