Gro Frivold

• Christensen, Mathilde Elsa; Rohde, Gudrun Elin & Frivold, Gro (2026). Adolescents’ experiences of being a relative of a critically ill patient in an intensive care unit: a qualitative study. BMC Health Services Research. 26(1). doi: 10.1186/s12913-026-14632-w. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background: Existing literature suggests that adolescents often find critical illness overwhelming and receive inadequate support and information from both parents and healthcare professionals. Objective: To explore the experiences of adolescents as relatives in an intensive care unit (ICU). Design: This study utilised a qualitative approach with an exploratory and descriptive design with in-depth interviews. Participants: Sixteen adolescent relatives of critically ill patients were recruited from three different ICUs in Norway. Methods: The study utilised semi-structured in-depth qualitative interviews to gather data, which were subsequently analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results: We identified two main themes, and five subthemes. 1. Life turns upside down: exploring a threat to life’s security; (a) Alone in uncertainty during a relative’s critical illness, and (b) Seeking clarity and guidance to navigate the impressions from a transformed reality. 2. The significance of an inclusive environment; (a) Feeling invisible and excluded, (b) The need to be near and being prepared, and (c) Feeling involved by being informed. Conclusions: Adolescent relatives of critically ill patients experience significant uncertainty and distress. The ICU environment is perceived as intimidating and technical. They frequently feel overlooked and in need of a welcoming and supportive environment. By individually preparing adolescents before their initial visit, healthcare professionals can better meet their responsibilities, minimise trauma, and contribute to a sense of belonging for adolescent relatives in the ICU. Care can be improved by addressing their needs and providing tailored information. Health authorities should prioritise resource allocation to support family-centred care practices and ensure that these objectives are achieved. Clinical implications: Understanding adolescents’ experiences when a relative is admitted to an ICU is essential for all healthcare professionals who interact with critically ill patients and their families. This study suggests that adolescents need to feel a sense of belonging within the ICU and underscores the importance of systematic preparation and tailored communication in ICUs to adequately support and involve adolescents.

• Christensen, Mathilde Elsa; Frivold, Gro & Rohde, Gudrun E. (2026). Adolescent relatives' experiences and perceptions of everyday life when a family member is critically ill and admitted to an ICU and in the aftermath: A qualitative study. Intensive and Critical Care Nursing. ISSN 0964-3397. 93. doi: 10.1016/j.iccn.2026.104333. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Aims This study explored the experiences and perceptions of adolescents who were relatives of intensive care unit (ICU) patients, focusing on their everyday lives during and after the ICU stay. Design Inductive descriptive qualitative study. Methods Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis (RTA). Findings Sixteen adolescents as relatives of ICU patients in Norway were included. Three themes were identified: Navigating adolescence independently during critical illness, Relational bonds and A new everyday life. Eight sub-themes identified: Feeling isolated, need for support from knowledgeable adults, striving for normalcy, avoid being a burden, loyalty to their family, adaptation in roles and changed relations, experiencing mental and physical challenges and existential experiences. Conclusions Adolescent relatives of critically ill patients experienced substantial uncertainty and distress, with their attention persistently focused on the critically ill family member. Their lives were significantly altered, resulting in unpredictability. Some adolescents reported personal growth in the aftermath. The adolescents expressed a need for a structured support programme.

• Aaberg, Oddveig Reiersdal; Johannesen, Dag Tomas Sagen; Moi, Ellen Benestad; Frivold, Gro; Jensen, Fredrik & Haddeland, Kristine (2025). Team leader communication in ad hoc teams and its impact on team outcomes: a systematic review. BMC Health Services Research. 25. doi: 10.1186/s12913-025-12887-3. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background Ad hoc teams often work on acute medical problems in intense and unpredictable situations. Team leadership is important for effective teamwork, and communication in ad hoc teams is especially vulnerable to errors and may impact patient outcomes. Previous review studies have mainly focused on team leadership styles. However, little is known about team leader communication in ad hoc teams and whether it impacts team outcomes. Thus, the aim of this review was to investigate whether team leader communication in ad hoc teams impacts team outcomes. Methods A systematic review was conducted with database searches on CINAHL, Medline and Embase in May 2023, with an update in February 2024. Eight studies identified from the search were included in the review, and the results are presented as a narrative synthesis. Results The eight studies that met our inclusion criteria had an observational quantitative design and all of them were conducted in the context of emergency departments or intensive care units (five from a simulation context and three from a real life context). Team leader communication was measured using validated instruments or behavioural indicators, such as call-outs and closed loops. The results revealed that team leader communication had a significant impact on team performance, measured as technical work performance and non-technical work performance, in all the included studies. The team leaders’ use of communication strategies, such as situational awareness, callouts and closed loop communication, positively impacted team performance. Conclusions The results of this systematic review indicate that team leaders in ad hoc teams have a significant impact on overall team performance. These results underscore the importance of competence in team leadership and highlight the importance of incorporating team leader training into team training programmes. Further studies using more homogenous measuring methods for both team leader communication and outcome variables are needed to confirm the results of this review. The findings in this review may contribute to an enhanced emphasis on the training of team leaders in intense, unpredictable situations, such as in ad hoc teams. Trial registration PROSPERO: CRD42023430082.

• Meyer, Käthe Birgitte; Rohde, Gudrun E. & Frivold, Gro (2024). Relatives’ and Intensive Care Unit Personnel’s Perspectives of Care in Organ Donation: Protocol for a Multiple Methods Study. JMIR Research Protocols. 13. doi: 10.2196/55643. Full text in Research Archive
• Frivold, Gro; Lind, Ranveig & Moi, Asgjerd Litleré (2024). Barneansvarlig sykepleier på intensivavdelingen: muligheter og ulike forventninger. Sykepleien Forskning. ISSN 1890-2936. 19. doi: 10.4220/Sykepleienf.2024.95370. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Bakgrunn: På norske intensivavdelinger behandles rundt 20 000 kritisk syke pasienter hvert år. Blant de pårørende vil det være mange barn og unge i en sårbar situasjon. Spesialisthelsetjenesteloven om barn og ungdom som pårørende ble endret i 2010. Det førte til at funksjoner som barneansvarlig personell ble opprettet i spesialisthelsetjenesten. Disse fagpersonene skulle i særlig grad tilrettelegge for barn som er pårørende, og være ressurspersoner for klinisk personell. Vi har lite kunnskap om hvordan oppgavene som barneansvarlig sykepleier har blitt utført på intensivavdelinger. Vi vet heller ikke hvilke utfordringer som fortsatt er aktuelle. Hensikt: Å undersøke barneansvarliges erfaringer med oppgaver og funksjoner på intensivavdelinger etter at krav om barneansvarlig personell ble innført i 2010. Metode: Individuelle kvalitative dybdeintervjuer i perioden høsten 2019 til våren 2022 med 14 sykepleiere. Vi ønsket å undersøke deres erfaringer med å sette i verk oppgaver i kraft av funksjonen som barneansvarlig på en intensivavdeling. Vi analyserte dataene ved hjelp av en induktiv og deskriptiv tilnærming. Resultat: Analysen resulterte i to hovedtemaer: «Lovpålagte krav møter hverdagens grenser» og «Behov for støtte i organisasjonen». De barneansvarlige sykepleierne erfarte at det var vanskelig å kunne innfri lovkravenes forventninger med de begrensede ressursene de hadde til rådighet på avdelingene. Konklusjon: Barneansvarlig personell på norske intensivavdelinger befinner seg i et vidt spenn mellom krevende oppgaver og utfordrende ansvar i den daglige behandlingen av akutt syke pasienter. Et hovedmål var å tilrettelegge for et inkluderende miljø for barn og ungdommer, anerkjenne og imøtekomme deres individuelle behov samt støtte familien. Her er det fortsatt potensial for forbedringer.

• Alfheim, Hanne Birgit; Frivold, Gro; Jensen, Hanne Irene & Lind, Ranveig (2023). Pårørende på intensivavdelinger i Norge før og under covid-19-pandemien. Sykepleien Forskning. ISSN 1890-2936. 18. doi: 10.4220/Sykepleienf.2023.91979. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Bakgrunn: For pasienten er det viktig å ha pårørende til stede på intensivavdelingen. Tradisjonelt har norske intensivavdelinger lagt til rette for at pårørende kan være mye til stede på avdelingen. Med covid-19-pandemien ble det innført strenge besøksrestriksjoner ved intensivavdelingene. Vi har liten oversikt over informasjonsrutinene og de pårørendes muligheter til å være sammen med pasienten på intensivavdelingen både før og under covid-19-pandemien. Hensikt: Studiens hensikt var å undersøke informasjons- og besøksrutinene for pårørende på norske intensivavdelinger før og under covid-19-pandemien. Metode: Norske data fra to tverrsnittsstudier om informasjons- og besøksrutiner blir beskrevet og presentert. Vi hentet data fra en nordisk (studie 1, 2019 og en skandinavisk tverrsnittsstudie (studie 2, 2020. Spørreskjema ble sendt til alle intensivavdelinger, og en sykepleier på hver avdeling svarte på spørsmålene. Vi analyserte kvantitative data ved hjelp av deskriptiv statistikk og fritekstkommentarer ved hjelp av innholdsanalyse. Resultat: Før covid-19-pandemien rapporterte 80 prosent av norske intensivavdelinger at de hadde relativt frie besøkstider, og pårørende ble ansett for å være en viktig ressurs både for pasienten og personalet. Under covid-19 pandemien hadde alle intensivavdelingene strenge restriksjoner for besøk, men sykepleierne gjorde i noen grad individuelle vurderinger. Før covid-19-pandemien fikk 11 prosent av de pårørende tilbud om daglig samtale med lege. Under pandemien var det 47 prosent som fikk det samme tilbudet. Sykepleierne var i mindre grad med på disse samtalene under pandemien sammenliknet med før pandemien. Konklusjon: Informasjonen og besøksrutinene på norske intensivavdelinger ble endret under covid-19-pandemien, der avdelingene gikk fra å være relativt åpne til å bli lukkede avdelinger. Før pandemien var besøksrutinene preget av fleksibilitet, og individuelle hensyn ble tatt. Under pandemien fikk flere pårørende daglige samtaler med legene sammenliknet med før pandemien. Under pandemien var sykepleierne sjeldnere med på samtaler der legen informerte de pårørende om pasientens tilstand, enn før pandemien.

• Frivold, Gro; Ågård, Anne-Sophie; Jensen, Hanne Irene; Åkerman, eva; Fossum, Mariann & Alfheim, Hanne Birgit [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2021). Family involvement in the intensive care unit in four Nordic countries. Nursing in Critical Care. ISSN 1362-1017. 26. doi: 10.1111/nicc.12702. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background - Relevance to clinical practice The findings from the study highlighting family involvement, high-quality communication and flexible visiting policy as central aspects of family care may inspire clinicians to identify aspects of everyday family care in their ICUs calling for further improvement.<p> <p>Aims and objectives - To describe family involvement, communication practices and visiting policies in adult ICUs.<p> <p>Design - A cross-sectional survey.<p> <p>Method - A questionnaire consisting of 11 sections was developed, pilot tested and e-mailed to 196 ICUs. The participants were intensive care nurses in adult ICUs in four Nordic countries.<p> <p>Results - The survey was conducted in October to December 2019. The response rate was 81% (158/196) of the invited ICUs. Most of the units had fewer than 11 beds. Family participation in patient care, including involvement in ward rounds and presence during cardiopulmonary resuscitation, varied between the countries, whereas most families in all countries were involved in decision-making. Family conferences were generally initiated by staff or family members. Children under 18 did not always receive information directly from the staff, and parents were not advised about how to inform their children. Although most respondents described open visiting, restrictions were also mentioned in free-text comments.<p> <p>Conclusions - The level of family care in ICUs in the four Nordic countries is generally based on nurses' discretion. Although most Nordic ICUs report having an open or flexible visiting policy, a wide range of potential restrictions still exists. Children and young relatives are not routinely followed up. Family members are included in communication and decision-making, whereas family involvement in daily care, ward rounds and family-witnessed resuscitation seem to be areas with a potential for improvement.

• Jensen, Hanne Irene; Åkerman, Eva; Lind, Ranveig; Alfheim, Hanne Birgit; Frivold, Gro & Fridh, Isabell [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2021). Conditions and strategies to meet the challenges imposed by the COVID-19-related visiting restrictions in the ICU: a Scandinavian cross-sectional study. Intensive and Critical Care Nursing. ISSN 0964-3397. 68. doi: 10.1016/j.iccn.2021.103116. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Objectives - To examine conditions and strategies to meet the challenges imposed by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related visiting restrictions in Scandinavian intensive care units.<p> <p>Research methodology/design - A cross-sectional survey.<p> <p>Setting - Adult intensive care units in Denmark, Norway and Sweden.<p> <p>Main outcome measures - Likert scale responses and free-text comments within six areas: capacity and staffing, visiting policies and access to the unit, information and conferences with relatives, written information, children as relatives and follow-up initiatives.<p> <p>Results - The overall response rate was 53% (74/140 participating units). All intensive care units had planned for capacity extensions; the majority ranging between 11 and 30 extra beds. From March–June 2020, units had a mean maximum of 9.4 COVID-19 patients simultaneously. Allowing restricted visiting was more common in Denmark (52%) and Norway (61%) than in Sweden where visiting was mostly denied except for dying patients (68%), due to a particular increased number of COVID-19 patients. The restrictions forced nurses to compromise on their usual standards of family care. Numerous models for maintaining contact between relatives and patients were described.<p> <p>Conclusion - Visitation restrictions compromised the quality of family care and entailed dilemmas for healthcare professionals but also spurred initiatives to developing new ways of providing family care.

• Dale, Bjørg & Frivold, Gro (2018). Psychometric testing of the Norwegian Version of the questionnaire Family Satisfaction in the Intensive Care Unit (FS-ICU-24). Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare. 11, p. 653–659. doi: 10.2147/JMDH.S184003. Full text in Research Archive
• Frivold, Gro; Slettebø, Åshild; Heyland, Daren & Dale, Bjørg (2017). Family members’ satisfaction with care and decision-making in intensive care units and post-stay follow-up needs—a cross sectional survey study. Nursing Open. 5, p. 6–14. doi: 10.1002/nop2.97. Full text in Research Archive
• Frivold, Gro; Slettebø, Åshild & Dale, Bjørg (2016). Family members’ lived experiences of everyday life after intensive care treatment of a loved one: a phenomenological hermeneutical study. Journal of Clinical Nursing (JCN). ISSN 0962-1067. 25(3-4), p. 392–402. doi: 10.1111/jocn.13059. Full text in Research Archive
• Frivold, Gro; Dale, Bjørg & Slettebø, Åshild (2015). Family members' experiences of being cared for by nurses and physicians in Norwegian intensive care units: A phenomenological hermeneutical study. Intensive and Critical Care Nursing. ISSN 0964-3397. 31(4), p. 232–240. doi: 10.1016/j.iccn.2015.01.006. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  HermeneuticsSummaryObjectives: When patients are admitted to intensive care units, families are affected. This studyaimed to illuminate the meaning of being taken care of by nurses and physicians for relativesin Norwegian intensive care units.Research methodology/design: Thirteen relatives of critically ill patients treated in intensivecare units in southern Norway were interviewed in autumn 2013. Interview data were analysedusing a phenomenological hermeneutical method inspired by the philosopher Paul Ricoeur.Results: Two main themes emerged: being in a receiving role and being in a participating role.The receiving role implies experiences of informational and supportive care from nurses andphysicians. The participating role implies relatives’ experiences of feeling included and beingable to participate in caring activities and decision-making processes.Conclusion: The meaning of being a relative in ICU is experienced as being in a receiving role,and at the same time as being in a participating role. Quality in relations is described as crucialwhen relatives share their experiences of care by nurses and physicians in the ICU. Thosewho experienced informational and supportive care, and who had the ability to participate,expressed feelings of gratitude and confidence in the healthcare system. In contrast, those whodid not experience such care, especially in terms of informational care expressed feelings offrustration, confusion and loss of confidence. However, patient treatment and care outweighedrelatives’ own feelings

• Frivold, Gro & Dale, Bjørg (2013). Sykepleieres opplevelser av å være i interaksjon med pårørende i intensivavdeling. Nordisk sygeplejeforskning. ISSN 1892-2678. 3(2), p. 90–104. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Intensivsykepleieres funksjon er kompleks, og involverer interaksjon med pårørende, i tillegg til avansert pasientbehandling. Forskning viser at interaksjon med pårørende i intensivavdelinger er viktig for pasienten og familien, men det er sparsomt med studier som har fokus på hvordan sykepleierne opplever dette. Hensikten med denne studien var å belyse og tolke en gruppe sykepleieres erfaringer med å være i interaksjon med pårørende i intensivavdeling. Seks intensivsykepleiere fra to norske sykehus ble intervjuet, og en fenomenologisk hermeneutisk metode ble brukt i analysene av de transkriberte tekstene. Analysen resulterte i fem hovedtemaer: å skape en inkluderende, identitetsbevarende atmosfære; å finne balanse mellom muligheter og begrensninger; et gjensidig avhengighetsforhold; opplevelse av mestring; og å skape trygghet og tillit. Studien viste at sykepleiernes interaksjon med pårørende i intensivavdelingen opplevdes som en balansegang mellom krav til høyteknologisk kompetanse og evnen til å yte god omsorg. Evnen til å bruke ulike typer kompetanse ut fra hva den enkelte praksissituasjonen krever, og til å skape en relasjon preget av tillit og trygghet, ble lagt stor vekt på.

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• Aaberg, Oddveig Reiersdal; Johannesen, Dag Tomas Sagen; Moi, Ellen Benestad; Frivold, Gro; Jensen, Fredrik & Haddeland, Kristine (2025). The impact of team leader communication in hospital ad hoc teams: A systematic review. Full text in Research Archive
• Johannesen, Dag Tomas Sagen; Moi, Ellen Benestad; Frivold, Gro; Jensen, Fredrik & Haddeland, Kristine (2025). The impact of team leader's communication on team performance in ad hoc teams. Full text in Research Archive
• Torsvik, Ragnhild; Frivold, Gro & Meyer, Käthe Birgitte (2024). Dagsseminar organdonasjonsprosjektet. Full text in Research Archive
• Torsvik, Ragnhild & Frivold, Gro (2024). “Omsorg for pårørende i organdonasjonsprosesser – pårørende og intensivpersonalets perspektiv”. Full text in Research Archive
• Alfheim, Hanne Birgit; Frivold, Gro & Lind, Ranveig (2023). Pårørende på intensivavdelinger i Norge før og under covid-19 pandemien. Full text in Research Archive
• Aareskjold, Otto Margon; Lieungh, Martin; Frivold, Gro; Forberg, Elisabeth; Morken, Ingvild Margreta & Skavern, Hege Jansen [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2021). Intensivsykepleie - fra videreutdanning til spesialgodkjente intensivsykepleiere med masterkompetanse. Forskrift om nasjonal retningslinje for intensivsykepleierutdanning. Full text in Research Archive
• Frivold, Gro & Moi, Ellen Benestad (2021). Krav om en kunnskapsbasert helsetjeneste? - å utdanne og beholde intensivsykepleiere. [Internet]. Arendalsuka 2021. Full text in Research Archive
• Frivold, Gro (2021). Organdonasjon i intensivavdelingen, foredrag for ansatte ved intensivavdelingen. Full text in Research Archive
• Frivold, Gro; Lind, Ranveig; Ågård, Anne-Sophie; Åkerman, Eva; Fridh, Isabell & Alfheim, Hanne Birgit [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2021). Pårørende i intensivavdelingen under Covid-19 i Skandinavia. Full text in Research Archive
• Frivold, Gro & Lind, Ranveig (2020). Pårørende kan rammes hardt. Full text in Research Archive
• Karlsen, Tor-Ivar & Frivold, Gro (2019). Family members’ reporting of anxiety and depression after intensive care units stay—a cross-sectional survey study. Full text in Research Archive
• Frivold, Gro & Moi, Ellen Benestad (2019). Erfarinsgsdeling fra helhetlig mastergrader. Full text in Research Archive
• Frivold, Gro; Slettebø, Åshild & Dale, Bjørg (2017). Relatives’ experiences related to a close family member’s stay in an intensive care unit. Full text in Research Archive
• Frivold, Gro (2015). Fremlegg av forskningsresultater. Full text in Research Archive
• Frivold, Gro (2015). Fremlegg av forskningsresultater for deltakende sykehus. Full text in Research Archive
• Frivold, Gro (2015). Fremlegg av forskningsresultater til deltakende sykehus. Full text in Research Archive
• Frivold, Gro (2015). Fremlegg av forskningsresultater på deltakende sykehus. Full text in Research Archive
• Frivold, Gro (2015). Presentasjon av forskningsresultater til deltakende sykehus, Hamar intensivavdeling. Full text in Research Archive
• Frivold, Gro; Dale, Bjørg & Slettebø, Åshild (2014). Being cared for by nurses and physicians in Norwegian intensive care units - family members perspective. Full text in Research Archive

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