What question did this study set out to answer?

The review aims to explore how humanising care is represented in patients' experiences in Scandinavian intensive care units.

March 29, 2026Open Access

Patients’ experiences of humanising care in Scandinavian intensive care units - a systematic review

Puntos clave

The review aims to explore how humanising care is represented in patients' experiences in Scandinavian intensive care units.
Conducted a qualitative systematic review of literature from Scandinavian countries.
Included 29 studies focusing on patient experiences in intensive care.
Performed thematic synthesis based on the findings of the included studies.
Followed the Enhancing Transparency in Reporting the Synthesis of Qualitative Research checklist.
Identified four key themes defining humanising care: recognition by professionals, safety and well-being, connection with significant others, and capacity to influence circumstances.
Humanising care was linked to ethical engagement and fostering patient well-being.
Findings revealed a gap in explicitly addressing humanisation in literature, despite its relevance.

Resumen

Using Scandinavian literature reporting patient experiences of intensive care as a case, the aim of this qualitative systematic review was to explore if humanising was addressed in the descriptions of patient experiences and, if so, what words and theoretical perspectives were used to underpin the results. A comprehensive search of qualitative studies published between 1 January 2016 and 12 December 2024 was conducted in Embase, CINAHL, MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science. Twenty-nine studies reporting patient ICU experiences were included and analysed using thematic synthesis following Thomas and Harden. The review adhered to the Enhancing Transparency in Reporting the Synthesis of Qualitative Research checklist. The terms humanisation and de-humanisation were not explicitly used, but the studies engaged with these concepts by corroborating the three themes that defined humanising ICU in this study: (1) feeling recognised as a human being when experiencing connectedness with healthcare professionals, (2) feeling connected with themselves and the situation when experiencing safety and well-being, and (3) feeling connected with significant persons and life outside the ICU. In addition, our analysis identified a further theme: (4) experiencing capacity to influence the situation when able to express themselves. Humanising intensive care involves ethical and caring engagement with the patient, helping them feel connected, experience well-being, and influence their situation. Although Scandinavian literature has not directly studied humanisation, it has focused on understanding patients’ experiences and addressing the ontology of critical illness. As such, humanising ICU aligns well with Scandinavian nursing traditions. Implications for clinical practice ICU staff should actively listen to patients and encourage them to express needs and preferences, create a safe and calm environment that supports well-being, and maintain communication with patients and families to promote a humanising approach to intensive care.

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