Introduction eHealth interventions represent a novel approach to improving Post Intensive Care Syndrome-Family. However, the effectiveness of these interventions on psychological outcomes in the families of ICU patients remains uncertain. Objective The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of eHealth interventions in alleviating psychological symptoms (anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder) of Post Intensive Care Syndrome-Family. Methods We systematically searched the databases across Cochrane Library, PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and CINAHL from 1st January 2012 to 27th June 2025. Randomized controlled trials of eHealth interventions aimed at improving Post Intensive Care Syndrome-Family were included in the review. Results This systematic review included 11 randomized controlled trials, involving 1,200 participants. The pooled results demonstrated that eHealth interventions did not significantly alleviate anxiety, depression, or PTSD symptoms in family members of ICU patients within 3 months of follow-up. However, subgroup analyses indicated that eHealth with early-stage psychological support led to a statistically significant improvement in depression symptoms (SMD = −0.32, 95% CI: −0.62 to −0.01). Conclusion eHealth interventions did not demonstrate statistically significant short-term (≤3-month follow-up) improvements in psychological symptoms of Post Intensive Care Syndrome-Family. Integrating early-stage psychological support into eHealth interventions may have a potential benefit in improving the psychological symptoms of ICU patients’ families, although further rigorous validation is needed. Systematic review registration https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420250656227 , Identifier: CRD420250656227.
Huang et al. (Wed,) studied this question.
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