[en] Introduction: Intensive Care Units (ICU) are places where technology and clinical efficacy take precedence, and therefore results in the attention given to the care of relatives becoming secondary. The hospitalization of a patient means that the family structure to which they belong is altered. Such sudden changes can cause serious disorders, including anxiety, depression, guilt, despair or fear. Aim: To conduct a systematic review of scientific literature on the needs presented by family members of critically ill patients. Methodology: A systematic literature review of the best scientific evidence related to the needs presented by family members of critically ill patients. Main bibliographic databases such as Medline, Cochrane Library Plus, Cinahl and Cuiden Plus were consulted. All articles and literature reviews in Spanish, English or Portuguese, published in the last 5 years, were included. Discussion: The main bibliographic databases relating to the needs presented by family members of critically ill patients were consulted. Finally a total of 17 studies were obtained for review. In several of the selected studies "Critical Care Family Needs Inventory (CCFNI)" Molter (1979), or its adaptations were used as a tool for data collection. Conclusions: Health workers should use a holistic approach to placing the family of the ICU patient along with the patient as the focus of attention to improve the quality of care, with measures taken to make the family feel welcome and help them to confront the hospitalization of their family in ICU, and also look after any needs they may have.

[gl] Introdución: As Unidades de Coidados Intensivos (UCIs) son lugares onde a tecnoloxía e la eficacia clínica predominan, o cal fai que quede en segundo plano a atención ós familiares. O ingreso hospitalario dun paciente implica que a estrutura familiar á que pertence se vexa alterada, ocasionando un cambio brusco que pode producir serios trastornos, como ansiedade, depresión, culpa, desesperación ou medo. Obxectivo: Realizar unha revisión sistemática da literatura científica relativa ás necesidades que presentan os familiares de pacientes críticos. Metodoloxía: Revisión bibliográfica sistemática da mellor evidencia científica sobre as necesidades que presentan os familiares de pacientes críticos. Consultáronse as principais bases de datos bibliográficas como son Medline, Cochrane Library Plus, Cinahl e Cuiden Plus. Na busca incluíronse todos os artigos e revisións publicados en castelán, inglés e portugués, elaborados nos últimos 5 anos. Discusión: Consultáronse as principais bases de datos bibliográficas relacionadas coas necesidades que presentan os familiares de pacientes críticos. Finalmente obtivéronse un total de 17 estudos para a súa revisión. En varios dos estudos seleccionados usouse como ferramenta para a recompilación de datos o "Critical Care Family Needs Inventory (CCFNI)" de Molter (1979), ou algunha das súas adaptacións. Conclusións: O persoal sanitario debe utilizar un enfoque holístico para situar á familia do paciente da UCI xunto co paciente como foco de atención para mellorar a calidade do coidado, con accións de acollida ós familiares, axudándoos a facer fronte á hospitalización do seu familiar na UCI e atendendo ás necesidades que estes presentan.