Patients' experiences of being in an intensive care unit: a select literature review

2000 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 20-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Stein-Parbury ◽  
S McKinley
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Critical Care ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Adverse Effects ◽  
Cognitive Functioning ◽  
Care Staff ◽  
Negative Experiences ◽  
Positive Experiences

A total of 26 research studies on patients' experiences of being in an intensive care unit were reviewed. The studies were selected because they focused on experiences typical in intensive care units. Many patients recalled their time in the intensive care unit, sometimes in vivid detail. Patients recalled not only experiences that were negative but also ones that were neutral and even positive. Positive experiences included a sense of safety and security promoted especially by nurses. Negative experiences included impaired cognitive functioning and discomforts such as problems with sleeping, pain, and anxiety. The review indicates steps critical care staff can take to develop better ways to understand patients' experiences. Meeting such challenges can improve the quality of patients' experiences and reduce anxiety and may offset potential adverse effects of being a patient in an intensive care unit.

“Love Can’t Be Taken to the Hospital. If It Were Possible, It Would Be Better”: Patients’ Experiences of Being Cared for in an Intensive Care Unit

2020 ◽  
pp. 104973232098227
Author(s):  
Gianfranco Sanson ◽  
Alessia Lobefalo ◽  
Adriana Fascì
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Care Staff ◽  
Health Care Staff ◽  
Negative Experiences ◽  
Stressful Environment ◽  
Icu Discharge ◽  
Core Components ◽  
Positive Experiences ◽  
Critical Patients

In this study, we aimed to explore the experiences of being cared for in an intensive care unit (ICU) through patients’ memories. We adopted a convergent parallel mixed-method design. We interviewed 100 patients shortly after their ICU discharge. Content analysis revealed 14 categories and 49 codes grouped according to themes corresponding to ICU Memory tool core components (factual events, feelings, delusions). The most critical patients reported mostly fragmented or delusional memories, the less critically-ill more factual memories. All experiences were recounted with strong feelings. ICU was identified as a hostile, stressful environment. Positive experiences were mainly associated with a sense of safety promoted by the nurses. Negative experiences were related to privacy and dignity violations, lack of empathy, not being understood, delays/lack of obtaining support, and total control by the health care staff. Removing any avoidable sources of stress and ensuring personalized, dignified care represent a key aim for ICU interprofessional teams.

Transition from an Open Bay to a Private Room Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Design — A Human Factors Evaluation

2005 ◽  
Vol 49 (11) ◽  
pp. 974-978 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas J. Smith ◽  
Sandra Clayton ◽  
Kathleen Schoenbeck
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Human Factors ◽  
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Patient Care ◽  
Neonatal Intensive Care ◽  
Patient Care Team ◽  
Care Staff ◽  
Care Technology

This report summarizes findings from a human factors evaluation of a change in the design of a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) from an open bay (OBNICU) to a private room (PRNICU) patient care environment. The objective was to compare and contrast effects of this design change on the perceptions and performance of NICU patient care staff. Results indicate that, relative to work on the OBNICU, staff perceived that work on the PRNICU resulted in notable improvements in the quality of physical environmental conditions, their jobs, patient care and patient safety, interaction with parents of NICU patients, interaction with patient care technology and their life off-the-job. In contrast, staff perceived that the quality of interaction among different members of the NICU patient care team worsened substantially after the move to the PRNICU. The latter finding prompted the recommendation that a virtual open bay environment be implemented in the PRNICU.

scholarly journals Impact on Mental, Physical and Cognitive functioning of a Critical care sTay during the COVID-19 pandemic (IMPACCT COVID-19): protocol for a prospective, multicentre, mixed-methods cohort study

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. e053610
Author(s):  
Ana Cristina Castro-Ávila ◽  
Catalina Merino-Osorio ◽  
Felipe González-Seguel ◽  
Agustín Camus-Molina ◽  
Jaime Leppe
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Cohort Study ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Cognitive Functioning ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Cognitive Impairments ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Icu Discharge

IntroductionThe ongoing pandemic could affect the duration, variety and severity of the mental, physical, and cognitive impairments intensive care unit (ICU) survivors and their families frequently present. We aim to determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental, physical, and cognitive health of survivors, the experience of their families and their treating healthcare professionals.Methods and analysisProspective, multicentre, mixed-methods cohort study in seven Chilean ICUs. Sample: 450 adults, able to walk independently prior to admission, in ICU and mechanical ventilation >48 hours with and without COVID-19. Clinical Frailty Scale, Charlson comorbidity index, mobility (Functional Status Score for the Status Score for the Intensive Care Unit) and muscle strength (Medical Research Council Sum Score) will be assessed at ICU discharge. Cognitive functioning (Montreal Cognitive Assessment–blind), anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), post-traumatic stress (Impact of Event Scale-Revised) symptoms, disability (WHO Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0), quality of life (European Quality of Life Health Questionnaire), employment and survival will be assessed at ICU discharge, 3 months and 6 months. A sample will be assessed using actigraphy and the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire at 6 months after ICU discharge. Trajectories of mental, physical, and cognitive impairments will be estimated using multilevel longitudinal modelling. A sensitivity analysis using multiple imputations will be performed to account for missing data and loss-to-follow-up. Survival will be analysed using Kaplan-Meier curves. The perceptions of family members regarding the ICU stay and the later recovery will be explored 3 months after discharge. Healthcare professionals will be invited to discuss the challenges faced during the pandemic using semistructured interviews. Interviews will be thematically analysed by two independent coders to identify the main themes of the experience of family members and healthcare professionals.Ethics and disseminationThe study was approved by the Clinica Alemana Universidad del Desarrollo Ethics Committee (2020–78) and each participating site. Study findings will be published in peer-reviewed journals and disseminated through social media and conference meetings.Trial registration numberNCT04979897.

Communication in the Intensive Care Unit About the End of Life

2007 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 406-414
Author(s):  
Patsy D. Treece
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Critical Care ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
End Of Life ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Perceived Quality ◽  
Clinician Communication ◽  
End Of Life Communication

Communicating well in the intensive care unit is essential to providing quality critical care for the families of patients who are expected to die. There are many examples in the literature of how clinicians fall short of meeting these needs of families. There is also a developing body of literature describing approaches and tools that may have a positive impact on the perceived quality of end-of-life communication. The quality of clinician communication can be improved just as other skills that are important in the intensive care unit.

scholarly journals Feasibility of Nurse-Led Multidimensional Outcome Assessments in the Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit

2020 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. e1-e8
Author(s):  
Erika Schlichter ◽  
Omar Lopez ◽  
Raymond Scott ◽  
Laura Ngwenya ◽  
Natalie Kreitzer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Critical Care ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Neurocritical Care ◽  
Loss To Follow Up ◽  
Outcome Assessments ◽  
Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit

Background The outcome focus for survivors of critical care has shifted from mortality to patient-centered outcomes. Multidimensional outcome assessments performed in critically ill patients typically exclude those with primary neurological injuries. Objective To determine the feasibility of measurements of physical function, cognition, and quality of life in patients requiring neurocritical care. Methods This evaluation of a quality improvement initiative involved all patients admitted to the neuroscience intensive care unit at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. Interventions Telephone assessments of physical function (Glasgow Outcome Scale-Extended and modified Rankin Scale scores), cognition (modified Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status), and quality of life (5-level EQ-5D) were conducted between 3 and 6 months after admission. Results During the 2-week pilot phase, the authors contacted and completed data entry for all patients admitted to the neuroscience intensive care unit over a 2-week period in approximately 11 hours. During the 18-month implementation phase, the authors followed 1324 patients at a mean (SD) time of 4.4 (0.8) months after admission. Mortality at follow-up was 38.9%; 74.8% of these patients underwent withdrawal of care. The overall loss to follow-up rate was 23.6%. Among all patients contacted, 94% were available by the second attempt to interview them by telephone. Conclusions Obtaining multidimensional outcome assessments by telephone across a diverse population of neurocritically ill patients was feasible and efficient. The sample was similar to those in other cohort studies in the neurocritical care population, and the loss to follow-up rate was comparable with that of the general critical care population.

scholarly journals A smartphone app for intensive care unit rotation orientation

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olga Bednarek ◽  
Osama Loubani ◽  
Samuel Jessula ◽  
Samuel Minor
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Critical Care ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Smartphone App

Implication Statement The Department of Critical Care at Dalhousie University developed a smartphone app to improve the quality of learner orientation to the intensive care unit (ICU). The app increased satisfaction with orientation and was perceived as useful. It was ranked as the second most valued resource for orientation after other residents. There is potential to improve the experience of learners with this popular technology.

Improving the Quality of Handoffs in Patient Care Between Critical Care Providers in the Intensive Care Unit

2016 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 376-383 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sumedh S. Hoskote ◽  
Carlos J. Racedo Africano ◽  
Andrea B. Braun ◽  
John C. O’Horo ◽  
Ronaldo A. Sevilla Berrios ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Critical Care ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Patient Care ◽  
Care Providers
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