Navigating technology and compassion: A phenomenological exploration of humanistic nursing care in a high-tech ICU

Abstract

Modern Intensive Care Units (ICUs) often prioritize technological stability over humanistic care, thereby potentially creating a mechanistic clinical environment. Because critical illness impacts both patients and families, examining their collective lived experiences is essential to confirm that 'high-tech' monitoring does not overshadow 'high-touch' human recovery. However, limited studies have explored the variables of lived experience among populations receiving care in these units. Therefore, this study explored the lived experiences of patients and families regarding humanistic nursing care in a high-tech ICU. To accomplish this, a qualitative descriptive phenomenological design was conducted over a four-month period beginning in October 2025. The study involved 20 participants recruited as 10 distinct dyadic pairs, comprising 10 patients and 10 primary family members. Furthermore, to address the unique clinical challenge of impaired consciousness in the ICU, only patients who had regained full consciousness (with a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 15), were stable, and possessed clear verbal communication skills were included. Data gathered from semi-structured interviews were analyzed using the Colaizzi method with a dyadic approach in order to effectively triangulate these dual perspectives. The study found five major themes emerged from the dyadic triangulation. Although most themes were shared experiences between both groups, their specific focuses diverged: patients’ narratives centered on the sensory-technological experience of being attached to machinery, whereas families prioritized information updates, visual access, and advocacy roles. Nursing warmth and spiritual support (dhikr and tawakkul) were identified by both groups as critical factors that mitigated the "cold" atmosphere of medical devices. Humanistic care serves as the vital link between advanced technology and the spiritual-emotional needs. Optimal intensive care requires a synergy of technological precision and compassionate presence, with specific attention to the family’s role as a pillar of care and the patient’s sensory comfort.

Keywords: Humanism, Intensive Care Units, nurse-patient relations, qualitative research, spirituality