The lived experience of patients with mechanical ventilation in intensive care unit: a Meta-synthesis / 中国实用护理杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To systematically review the qualitative researches on patients′ lived experiences of being mechanically ventilated in intensive care unit.Methods:The Cochrane Library, PubMed, Web of Science, Ovid, CNKI, VIP and Wanfang database were searched to collect qualitative studies on patients′ lived experiences of being mechanically ventilated in intensive care unit, from October 2009 to October 2019. Two reviewers independently screened the literature against the pre-determined inclusion and exclusion criteria, extracting the data, and evaluated the included studies according to JBI Critical Appraisal Tool for qualitative studies in Australia.Results:A total of fourteen studies were included. Thirty-eight complete results were grouped according to their similarities to form seven categories. These categories led to three synthesized findings: results 1 patients suffered from both physical and mental distress; results 2 they were eager for supports; results 3 patients achieved personal growth through self-adjustment and reflection.Conclusion:Discomfort experience during mechanical ventilation reduces patients′ comfort, and to a certain extent, has negative impacts on their physical or mental health and clinical outcome. As the main caregiver of patients with mechanical ventilation, not only should nurses alleviate patients′ physical distress by strengthening communication but also give them adequate psychological support. Eventually, promote the physical and mental recovery of patients.