Table 1 Study Characteristics and Patient and Informal Caregiver Demographics from Randomized Controlled Trials of ICU Bereavement Interventions

Barnato et al., 2017 [29]

5 ICUs

1 trauma

1 cardiovascular

2 medical

1 mixed

3 hospitals

1 tertiary teaching

1 cancer center

1 community

Storytelling delivered via home visit or telephone call approximately 4 weeks following patient death that included:

- non-judgmental elicitation of the story of the events leading up to the patient’s ICU admission

- ICU experience and decision process

- aftermath of the patient’s death

1–2 h

Follow-up assessments conducted via telephone interview or by mail at:

3 months

6 months

Total N = 32

n, intervention = 18

age, 67.8 yr (SD 13.7)

female, 50%

n, control = 14

age, 72.0 yr (SD 10.2)

female, 50%

Total N = 32

n, intervention = 18

age, 55.0 yr (SD 11.0)

female, 61.1%

n, control = 14

age, 55.9 yr (SD 12.6)

female, 86.7%

Kentish-Barnes et al., 2017 [28]

22 ICUs

8 medical

11 general

1 surgical

1 nephrology

1 anesthesia-surgical

22 hospitals

11 academic

11 non-academic

Condolence letter prepared (hand-written) within 3 days after patient death and sent by standard mail 15 days after patient death that included:

- recognition of the death

- name of the decreased

- mention of a personal impression

- recognition of the family member

- offer to help

- express sympathy

Not reported

Follow-up assessments conducted via telephone interview by psychologists, sociologists, and research nurses blinded to study group at:

1 month

6 months

Total N = 242

n, intervention = 123

age, 61 yr (Rg. 54–71)

female, 33.3%

n, control = 119

age, 61 yr (Rg. 54–66)

female, 37.0%

Total N = 242

n, intervention = 123

age, 57 yr (Rg. 46–65.5)

female, 67.9%

n, control = 119

age, 56 yr (Rg. 44–64.5)

female, 71.7%

Tawil et al., 2014 [30]

4 ICUs

1 medical

1 neurosciences

1 trauma/surgical

1 PICU (> 17 yr eligible)

1 hospital

1 tertiary teaching

Family groups presence during brain death evaluation joined the evaluating physician at the patient’s bedside to observe the brain death evaluation including all brainstem reflex testing and the apnea test. The subjects were accompanied by a chaperone who could explain the process and answer questions during the evaluation. After the brain death evaluation was complete, the family members were notified of the results and given an opportunity to ask questions.

Average duration of brain death evaluation not stated

All family members sent hard copies of assessment surveys then telephoned by a trained research nurse who administered the surveys and recorded responses within 1- to 3-months after patient death

Total N = 17

n, intervention = 11

age, 41.7 yr (Rg. 19–67)

female, 55%

n, control = 6

age, 52.5 yr (Rg. 32–67)

female, 33%

Total N = 58

n, intervention = 38

age, 41.7 yr (SD 14.4)

female, 61.1%

n, control = 20

age, 44.6 yr (SD 17.6)

female, 85.7%