From despair to hope: copying of relatives of hospitalized children before bad news report

ABSTRACT Objective: to understand the experiences of relatives of critically ill children before bad news report. Method: a phenomenological study based on Heidegger’s philosophical framework. Data collection was carried out from October 2018 to March 2019, through phenomenological interviews with 15 relatives of children hospitalized in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. Results: relatives, in their existentiality, experience the facticity thrown into unpredictable situations, regardless of their choices and are faced with feelings of shock, despair and fear before bad news. After emotional impact, especially regarding the possibility of death, relatives reveal hope as a mechanism for coping with the situation. Final considerations: solidarity and sensitivity by health professionals, especially nurses, are essential in understanding the existential dimension of relatives who experience such an experience, understanding the several facets of their existence and offering them opportunities to project themselves.

摘要 目的：探析重症患儿家属在获悉坏消息前的真实体验。方法：本研究为基于海德格尔哲学框架的现象学研究。数据采集于2018年10月至2019年3月期间完成，通过对15名入住儿科重症监护病房（Pediatric Intensive Care Unit）的患儿家属开展现象学访谈实现。结果：患儿家属在其生存境遇中，真切感受到自身被抛入无从预料的境遇之中——无论自身做出何种选择，在获悉坏消息前便已深陷震惊、绝望与恐惧的情绪之中。在经历情绪冲击，尤其是直面患儿死亡的可能性后，家属会将希望作为应对当下处境的心理调适机制。结论与思考：医疗从业者，尤其是护士，所秉持的共情与体察，对于理解此类经历者家属的生存向度、洞悉其存在的多重面向，并为其提供自我展望的契机而言，至关重要。