Timing of Exposure to ICU Diaries and Its Impact on Mental Health, Memories, and Quality of Life: A Double-Blind Randomized Control Trial.

Optimal time for ICU diary delivery and impact on mental health (MH), anxiety-depression, post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), quality of life (QOL), and memories is unclear. We evaluated the effect of ICU diaries, dispatched at different time points, on outcomes in an Indian cohort. DESIGN: Double-blind randomized controlled trial. SETTING: A 1,000-bedded teaching hospital in East India. PATIENTS: Mechanically ventilated (>24 hr) adults were recruited, excluding those dead or incapable of meaningful-communication at discharge or follow-up. Eighty-three patients, aged 46.2 ± 17.2 years, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II scores 13.7 ± 4.9 were assessed. Length of ICU stay was 8.2 ± 7.1 days with 3.7 ± 3.2 ventilator days. INTERVENTION: Of 820 screened, 164 had diaries created. Including photographs, diaries were comaintained by healthcare workers and family members. Ninety patients were randomized at 1-month follow-up: diary sent to 45 at 1 month (group ID1) and to 45 at 3 months (ID3). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Anxiety-depression, memory, and QOL were assessed telephonically or home visits by a psychologist using the Hospital Anxiety-Depression Scale (HADS) and other tools at ICU discharge, 1-month (prerandomization), and 3 months of discharge. ID3 was reassessed after receiving diaries at 3.5 months. Primary outcome was anxiety-depression; secondary outcomes included PTSS, QOL, and memories. There was 100% follow-up. At 3 months, ID1 patients had a significant (p < 0.001) reduction in HADS from baseline when compared with ID3 that had not received diaries (4.16 ± 2.9 vs 2.15 ± 1.8; 95% CI, 2.8-1.2). PTSS scores were likewise better (p < 0.001). ID3 patients demonstrated significant improvement (p < 0.01) in QOL and memories along with HADS and PTSS when assessed at 3.5 months. CONCLUSIONS: ICU diaries improve MH but not QOL when delivered at 1 month and assessed 2 months thereafter. Assessed after 15 days, delayed exposure at 3 months significantly improved QOL and memories in addition to MH.

Prevalence and Psychosocial Correlations of COVID-19-Related Worries in People with Diabetes Mellitus Seeking Services from East Indian Tertiary Care Center: A Cross-Sectional Survey Results.

Context: Patients with diabetes are more prone to psychosocial problems which are known to adversely impact clinical outcomes of diabetes. COVID-19 is understood to further worsen the psychosocial problems of patients with diabetes. Aims: We carried out this cross-sectional telephonic survey of COVID-19-related worries in patients with diabetes mellitus to understand the prevalence and correlates of COVID-19-related worries. Settings and Design: This was a telephonic survey of patients seeking care from noncommunicable disease clinic of a tertiary care medical center. Subjects and Methods: We used a structured questionnaire to assess sociodemographic, clinical, psychological variables and COVID-19-related worries. Statistical Analysis Used: We used SPSS 20.0 for descriptive statistics keeping significance levels at 0.05. Between-group comparisons of continuous variables were made with independent t-test and two-way ANOVA; correlations were carried out with Pearson correlation test. Results: Two hundred and nine patients completed the telephonic survey conducted from September to November 2020. The prevalence of diabetes-related worries in our sample was 80%. Younger age (P < 0.001), unemployment (P = 0.029), and the presence of mental disorder (P < 0.001) were associated with higher diabetes-related worries. Poor glycemic control (0.008) and symptoms of COVID-19 (0.03) were associated with diabetes-related worries. Diabetes-related worries correlated with diabetes distress (ρ =0.441, P < 0.001), social isolation (ρ =0.401, P < 0.001), and perception of social support (ρ = -0.158, P < 0.001). Conclusions: A large proportion of our patients with diabetes are at high risk to experience COVID-19-related worries especially, younger people, unemployed and those with mental illness. Furthermore, the presence of diabetes distress and the perception of social isolation increase COVID-19 worries.

Intensive care unit (ICU) diaries and the experiences of patients' families: a grounded theory approach in a lower middle-income country (LMIC).

OBJECTIVE: An intensive care unit (ICU) diary is a relatively new concept in low middle-income countries (LMICs). Illiteracy and socio-cultural inhibitions may affect the use and utility of this intervention, which has proven beneficial to patients and their families in high income countries (HICs). We aimed to explore how families of ICU patients experienced ICU diaries in our set up by using the Grounded Theory (GT) approach. A relatively new research tool, this enables exploration of a phenomenon to build theories in areas hitherto uncharted. METHOD: A clinical psychologist did 29 in-depth interviews of relatives of 13 patients admitted in the ICU for > 24 h for whom an ICU diary was being maintained. We used a three-step coding process- open, axial, and selective coding, followed by the formulation of a theory embedded in the data. RESULTS: We found that the younger relatives of ICU patients accepted the idea better (age 30, SD 6) Half (48%) had education between 5th to 10th standards. Emergent themes suggested that for the family members, reading and writing the diary brought novelty, acted as a communication enabler, spiritual truss, and improved knowledge leading to change in perspective about the health care system. It also became a bridge to community bonding after patient discharge. Starting with appreciating the novelty of 'diary entries,' which was a new and exciting concept, family members used the diaries to communicate with health care workers (to gain information and understanding about the disease and treatment) and the patient to express their love and to maintain a connection. The diary acted as a confessional for hopes, fears, guilt, and faith for many members. As a tool, it enabled them to understand medical personnel as human beings and to appreciate their efforts, effectively improving confidence in the system. Finally, upon returning home, the diary was a crowd puller for extended family and neighbors encouraging discussions and enhancing bonding and information sharing. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate a good acceptance of ICU diaries by family members in our ICU. With less literate, admitted 'shy 'members, in a society where 'diary writing' is not culturally rampant, the appreciation for the novel concept was universal. We see a place for these interventions not only at the patient/ family level but also as a means to 'correct' the image of health care workers in our society by humanizing ourselves to the end-user- the patient and his family.