Mensagens dos familiares de pacientes em estado de coma: A esperança como elemento comum

Abstract

Objective: Identifying common meanings in messages from relatives of patients in coma who had been admitted into intensive care units. Methods: Descriptive study, qualitatively analyzing 30 messages from families of critical state patients. Results: Seven categories emerged: search for spiritual support to overcome difficulties; the necessity of expressing one.s feelings; the wish for the patients to return to family life; patients should not worry about external events; family is concerned with reporting the visits, reaffirming that the patient is not alone; concerns about the patient.s recovery; memories about daily life and news from home. Conclusions: Feelings and concerns emerged, along with a universal feeling: hope. This was a part of all categories; hope not only about a cure, but also in adaptation.