ABSTRACT
Due to the particularity of the Intensive Care Unit(ICU)environment,the visiting time of family members is strictly limited,resulting in family members being unable to communicate with patients in time to understand their wishes and preferences.Moreover,the sudden onset of the diseases and clinical uncertainty can easily lead to ambivalence among family members in decision-making,leading to decision-making dilemmas.This paper reviewed the concepts,assessment tools,causes,effects,and coping strategies of decision-making dilemmas for family members of ICU patients,with a view to providing a theoretical basis for future intervention in decision-making dilemmas for family members of ICU patients,improving their quality of agency decision-making,shortening patient hospitalization time,improving the health outcomes of patients,and ultimately increasing the satisfaction of medical and nursing.