OBJECTIVES:

To describe and understand children's thoughts and feelings related to visiting critically ill relatives or family members in an adult intensive care unit.

DESIGN:

A qualitative descriptive study.

METHOD:

Twenty-eight children (14 girls; 14 boys) that had visited a critically ill relative or family member in an adult intensive care unit were invited to participate in an interview. The material was analysed inspired by Gadamer's hermeneutic philosophy and Doverborg and Pramling Samuelsson's method about interviews and dialogues with children.

RESULTS:

Children with a seriously ill/injured relative suffer. However, visiting seems to alleviate suffering. Visiting and being present as a part of the situation brought positive feelings of involvement and made it possible to show that they wanted to care for the relative. The sick relative was always on the child's mind and seeing and being with them in the intensive care unit resulted in relief and calmness, even if the relative's situation sometimes evoked feelings of despair and fear.

CONCLUSION:

Knowledge and awareness of the fact that children are affected by the relative's condition and for their wellbeing needs to visit, caring actions must focus on helping the child become involved in the relative's situation in order to alleviate suffering.