[Analysis of the literature on the relatives of the critical patient: research in effective care needs to be performed].

Aim: To explore the nature of studies on families and the Intensive Care Unit context and the issues they deal with.

Design And Methods: This is a qualitative, methodological study that makes a documental analysis of 24 articles (between 1993-2004) located by descriptors in journals and databases. A double analysis was conducted: quality assessment and content analysis.

Results: The articles analyzed were mainly descriptive and reviews of the literature. Six categories were found: environment hostility, family needs, design of interventions, nursing care, experience of the families, and decision making autonomy.

Conclusions: The nursing staff wants to establish care aimed at the patient's family. To do so, they need to be trained in psychological aspects such as handling of emotional stress, strategies and skills for coping and communication strategies and skills. Research should change its focus from being description to proposing and evaluating intervention strategies. Research findings should translate into recommendations for this change.