INTRODUCTION

The aim was to describe relatives’ need of support and information whena significant other has survived cardiac arrest and the impact on everyday life 6 months after theevent.OBJECTIVES.Interviews with 20 relatives were conducted 6 months after a significantother’s cardiac arrest.

METHODS

The interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim and were analyzed withqualitative content analysis.

RESULTS

The result illustrated various experiences by relatives. Six months after the sig-nificant other’s cardiac arrest relatives experienced support mainly from other family membersand friends. Relatives stated that the care, support and information in the intensive care unit hadbeen good but that they felt abandoned by the health care when the significant other wasdischarged from the intensive care unit. There were various requests to get more support fromthe health care mainly around issues concerning prognosis, rehabilitation and follow-up care.There were also requests to meet others in same situation, like family groups where they couldshare experiences. They experienced that the everyday life was affected especially withincreased responsibilities and requirements at home, restrictions in social life, a sense ofabandoned and a lack of understanding from the surroundings and a constant concern for thesignificant other.

CONCLUSIONS

Relatives’ everyday life was still affected 6 months after the event withincreased responsibilities at home and a constant concern for the person stricken by a cardiacarrest. The study illustrates that health care personnel need to offer relatives follow-upappointments to clarify issues concerning support and information.