ABSTRACT
Objective:To explore the factors leading to communication disorders in ICU patients during mechanical ventilation from the perspective of both patients and medical staff, and to use the theoretical framework of acceptability to identify the barriers that can be improved by intervention.Methods:Using the method of descriptive phenomenology from July to August 2022, 11 patients with mechanical ventilation and 8 medical staff in the comprehensive ICU of a Yuhuangding Hospital in Yantai were selected for interviews by the purpose sampling method, combined with participatory observation. The interviews of patients were conducted off ventilator. With Nvivo12.0 Plus software, the seven-step analysis method of Colaizzi phenomenology was adopted to summarize the theme and the theoretical framework of acceptability was used to identify the obstacle factors that could be improved by intervention.Results:The age of 11 patients was 18-46 years old, the duration of mechanical ventilation was 9.5-312.3 h. The age of 8 medical staff was 26-54 years old, the length of service in ICU was 2-30 years. A total of 14 themes were extracted. For patients: defensive mood, difficulty in presenting information, introverted personality, communication tools are hard to use, emergency treatment conflict, deny the ability to communicate, thought slowness. For medical staff: defensive mood, cognitive load, high time cost, lack of humane communication strategies, poor training, other priorities, loss of confidence in effective communication, awareness of the importance of communication was not enough.Conclusions:There are many factors that can be improved for patients with mechanical ventilation in ICU. It is suggested to speed up the research and development of high-tech and personalized alternative communication tools in China, reduce negative communication between doctors and patients and nurses and patients, and implement evidence-based multi-mode and progressive communication intervention strategies.