Adolescent relatives’ experiences and perceptions of everyday life when a family member is critically ill and admitted to an ICU and in the aftermath: A qualitative study

AIMS: This study explored the experiences and perceptions of adolescents who were relatives of intensive care unit (ICU) patients, focusing on their everyday lives during and after the ICU stay. DESIGN: Inductive descriptive qualitative study. METHODS: Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis (RTA). FINDINGS: Sixteen adolescents as relatives of ICU patients in Norway were included. Three themes were identified: Navigating adolescence independently during critical illness, Relational bonds and A new everyday life. Eight sub-themes identified: Feeling isolated, need for support from knowledgeable adults, striving for normalcy, avoid being a burden, loyalty to their family, adaptation in roles and changed relations, experiencing mental and physical challenges and existential experiences. CONCLUSIONS: Adolescent relatives of critically ill patients experienced substantial uncertainty and distress, with their attention persistently focused on the critically ill family member. Their lives were significantly altered, resulting in unpredictability. Some adolescents reported personal growth in the aftermath. The adolescents expressed a need for a structured support programme. IMPLICATIONS FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE: The adolescents experienced substantial disruption in their everyday lives and often lacked systematic support when a family member was admitted to an ICU. The findings suggest that health care professionals (HCPs), both in the ICU and school health service, should collaborate to offer targeted support to adolescents who are relatives of ICU patients.