Impact of a Volunteer-Delivered Spiritual Care Strategy on Preventing Post-Intensive Care Syndrome-Family in Relatives of Critically Ill ICU Patients: A Quasi-Experimental Study.
Carolina Ruiz, Leyla Alegria, Patricia Olivares and 5 others
PMID 41744311WHAT IT FOUND
Trained volunteers delivering three structured spiritual care sessions by video call were associated with lower PTSD symptoms in ICU family members at 3 months.
Anxiety and depression showed no clear difference.
Key findings
01The intervention group had lower PTSD symptoms at follow-up than the pre-intervention group (38.2 versus 46.1).
02Anxiety and depression scores did not differ between groups at follow-up.
03Among 43 respondents, 97% felt emotionally supported, 95% found the sessions meaningful, and 100% would recommend them.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study was before-and-after without randomisation, so the PTSD difference may be association rather than cause. The intervention group had relatives with longer mechanical ventilation, ICU stay, and hospital stay, which could have affected family distress. The paper reports 125 caregivers participated, while the outcome tables analyse 47 control and 43 intervention and another sentence reports 50 and 51 completions. Small sample and incomplete follow-up may have reduced power for anxiety and depression and could bias results. Outcomes were self-reported by relatives, so answers may be affected by memory or wanting to please the team. The study was done in a single public hospital in Chile, where formal chaplaincy training is not standardised, so it may not apply elsewhere.
Declared interests
The study was supported by Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile and Chile's National Fund for Scientific and Technological Development. The paper states the funders had no role in design, data collection, analysis, interpretation, manuscript preparation, or submission.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read this as proof that the volunteer-delivered spiritual care package prevents PTSD in ICU families. The study was before-and-after without randomisation, the intervention group had relatives with longer ICU stays, and anxiety and depression showed no between-group difference.