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
研究目的：旨在明确重症患儿家属在获悉坏消息前的心理体验。
研究方法：本研究为基于海德格尔哲学框架的现象学研究。数据采集工作于2018年10月至2019年3月间开展，通过对某儿科重症监护室（Pediatric Intensive Care Unit）收治的15名患儿家属开展现象学访谈完成。
研究结果：家属在其生存论视域中，体会到自身被抛入无法预判处境的实际性，无论自身做出何种选择，在获悉坏消息前均会陷入震惊、绝望与恐惧的情绪之中。在经历情绪冲击（尤其是直面死亡可能性的冲击）后，家属会将希望作为应对当前处境的心理调适机制。
研究结论：医疗从业者（尤其是护士）所展现出的共情与关怀，对于理解经历此类境遇的家属的生存向度、洞悉其存在的多重面向，并为其提供自我规划的契机至关重要。