Shivering Hopes: A Qualitative Inquiry into the Experiences of Family Caregivers of Critically Ill Patients Reliant on Health Care Technology

The aim of the study was to assess the lived experience of family caregivers of critically ill patients sustained by healthcare technologies in Benin-City, Nigeria. This study employed a hermeneutic phenomenological design. Data were collected through in-depth individual interviews with ten participants, observations, and field notes. The analysis was conducted using Paul Ricoeur's Theory of Interpretation and managed with Nvivo data management software. The study was conducted at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) from August 2022 to December 2023, with a sample size of 10 participants. The study's findings revealed that the majority (70%) of family caregivers were at least 30 years old, Christian, and had spent a minimum of two weeks in the intensive care unit (ICU). Ninety percent had received post-secondary education. Three themes emerged from their experiences: "Journeying into the unknown," "Technological care is an ecosystem," and "Exhibiting emotional intelligence." In addition to that, the findings also showed that upon learning of their loved one's''' transfer to the ICU, caregivers experienced mixed emotions, including palpable fear of death. This fear was linked to the high costs of management, a tense hospital environment, lack of involvement in care, institutional shortcomings, and diminished motivation due to frequent deaths in the ICU. Family caregivers must be engaged in formulating and implementing care plans to provide holistic care that meets the needs of both patients and their caregivers. Hospital administrators should take proactive steps to reduce treatment costs, making care more affordable for families. Furthermore, comprehensive programs aimed at addressing the institutional flaws identified in this study must be implemented urgently.