Welcoming Families in Critical Care: A Scoping Review

Aims This study aimed to map and analyze scientific evidence on nursing interventions to welcome the families of critically ill patients. Design Scoping review. Data Sources In January 2024, a comprehensive search of studies published between 2018 and 2024 was conducted across the following databases: PubMed; MEDLINE Complete; Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) Complete; Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials; Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews; and MedicLatina. Review Methods The framework proposed by Arksey and O'Malley guided the scoping review and was reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) checklist. Results A total of 827 records were initially retrieved and screened. Twelve studies were selected for complete analysis. Nursing interventions for welcoming families of critically ill patients fall into four categories: information provision, emotional support, unit environment adaptation, and family involvement. Conclusion Welcoming families provides a valuable opportunity for early identification of their needs, enabling the establishment of a therapeutic relationship and tailored interventions that support family-centred care. Impact This study highlights the importance of structured nursing interventions in welcoming families to intensive care settings. By addressing families` needs, these interventions contribute to improved emotional stability, family functioning, and potentially better outcomes for critically ill patients.