Family and Social Support: Application to the Critically I11 Patient

Abstract

Despite the vast amount of literature describing social support, many characteristics and attributes of the concept of social support lose relevance when applied to the critically ill population. From preliminary data, the authors have identified several aspects of social support that are not included in the social support literature, and many areas that are described in-depth but that may not be applicable for the critically ill. The authors conclude that there are unanswered questions and unstated assumptions in the social support literature. These generalities have submerged the essence of support to the extent that the nature and role of social support have been obscuredfor critically ill patients and their families. Detailed qualitative inquiry of social support would bring to theforefront the essential nature of support within this population.