Initially, the Famiréa team observed the support provided to family members of patients in Intensive Care Units in order to produce an objective description of the reality of the practices and experiences of the various actors involved: patients, relatives, doctors, nurses and other care providers.

Since these first descriptive studies, the group has contributed to the development of a number of tools and strategies to improve the support and care provided for    the families of patients, such as the “ICU explained” booklet, the “bereavement support” booklet and proactive communication strategies with the family members. The group has also developed more qualitative research to gain a deeper understanding of the experience of each person and to adapt the proposals resulting from quantitative research to a sometimes complex reality. Giving a voice to the people involved is at the heart of our approach.

The group includes several dozen intensive care units in France, all of which are individually involved in Famiréa’s ambitions. Our studies (about 80 published articles) and those of other researchers have led to changes in practices in many hospitals nationwide, thus contributing to improving care for patients and their families during their stay in an intensive care unit.

In 2020, the Famiréa group won the Galien Coup de Coeur prize from the Patient Support Jury.