Anticipatory Grief as a Holistic Experience: A Phenomenological Study of Family Members in an Indonesian Intensive Care Unit.

Résumé

This study explored how family members of terminally ill patients in an intensive care unit (ICU) experience anticipatory grief as a holistic, multidimensional phenomenon. A qualitative phenomenological approach guided by Jean Watson's Theory of Human Caring was used to capture participants' lived experiences. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven family members of terminally ill patients in the ICU of a public hospital in West Java, Indonesia. Participants were recruited using purposive sampling. Data were analyzed using Colaizzi's method and reported according to the COREQ checklist. Five interrelated themes emerged: (a) emotional storm in the face of uncertainty; (b) faith as a spiritual anchor; (c) searching for meaning through reflection; (d) the need for connection and compassion; and (e) preparing the heart through ritual, hope, and letting go. Families experienced grief as a spiritually rooted, emotionally intense, and relationally significant journey, shaped by cultural practices and their interactions with nurses. Anticipatory grief in the ICU is a holistic crisis that calls for intentional, compassionate, and spiritually sensitive nursing presence. Findings support the integration of holistic caring principles and culturally congruent support into ICU practice.