Managing well-being in paediatric critical care: a multiperspective qualitative study of nurses' and allied health professionals' experiences.

OBJECTIVES: It is well evidenced that healthcare professionals working in paediatric critical care experience high levels of burn-out, compassion fatigue and moral distress. This worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic. This work examines the nature of challenges to workplace well-being and explores what well-being means to staff. This evidence will inform the development of staff interventions to improve and maintain staff well-being. DESIGN: Qualitative study. SETTING: Paediatric critical care units in the UK. PARTICIPANTS: 30 nurses and allied health professionals took part in online interviews and were asked about well-being and challenges to well-being. Lived experiences of well-being were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. RESULTS: Themes generated were as follows: perception of self and identity; relationships and team morale; importance of control and balance and consequences of COVID-19. They focused on the impact of poor well-being on participants' sense of self; the significance of how or whether they feel able to relate well with their team and senior colleagues; the challenges associated with switching off, feeling unable to separate work from home life and the idealised goal of being able to do just that; and lessons learnt from working through the pandemic, in particular associated with redeployment to adult intensive care. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings align closely with the self-determination theory which stipulates autonomy, belonging and competence are required for well-being. Participants' accounts supported existing literature demonstrating the importance of empowering individuals to become self-aware, to be skilled in self-reflection and to be proactive in managing one's own well-being. Change at the individual and staff group level may be possible with relatively low-intensity intervention, but significant change requires systemic shifts towards the genuine prioritisation of staff well-being as a prerequisite for high-quality patient care.

Triggers of intensive care patients with palliative care needs from nurses' perspective: a mixed methods study.

PURPOSE: Triggers have been developed internationally to identify intensive care patients with palliative care needs. Due to their work, nurses are close to the patient and their perspective should therefore be included. In this study, potential triggers were first identified and then a questionnaire was developed to analyse their acceptance among German intensive care nurses. METHODS: For the qualitative part of this mixed methods study, focus groups were conducted with intensive care nurses from different disciplines (surgery, neurosurgery, internal medicine), which were selected by convenience. Data were analysed using the "content-structuring content analysis" according to Kuckartz. For the quantitative study part, the thus identified triggers formed the basis for questionnaire items. The questionnaire was tested for comprehensibility in cognitive pretests and for feasibility in a pilot survey. RESULTS: In the qualitative part six focus groups were conducted at four university hospitals. From the data four main categories (prognosis, interprofessional cooperation, relatives, patients) with three to 15 subcategories each could be identified. The nurses described situations requiring palliative care consults that related to the severity of the disease, the therapeutic course, communication within the team and between team and patient/relatives, and typical characteristics of patients and relatives. In addition, a professional conflict between nurses and physicians emerged. The questionnaire, which was developed after six cognitive interviews, consists of 32 items plus one open question. The pilot had a response rate of 76.7% (23/30), whereby 30 triggers were accepted with an agreement of ≥ 50%. CONCLUSION: Intensive care nurses see various triggers, with interprofessional collaboration and the patient's prognosis playing a major role. The questionnaire can be used for further surveys, e.g. interprofessional triggers could be developed.

Quality of work life for health professions in Colombia's adult critical care: An integrative analysis.

BACKGROUND: Health professionals in Colombian and many parts of the world, in some cases, work in precarious conditions and intend to migrate to other countries in search of better living conditions for themselves and their families, which results in inadequate distribution worldwide and in the quality of care throughout the health system, which can ultimately influence the quality of life of patients in their health-disease processes. PURPOSE: Describe in depth what quality of life at work is like for the health workforce in adult critical care (ACC). METHODS: This is an investigation of convergent parallel mixed methods approach that are integrated by means of a matrix in terms of convergence, divergence, and complementarity. Two methods are used: a transversal analytical method in which three instruments were applied to 209 participants to study the relationship between Quality of Life at Work, exposure to psychosocial risks, compassion fatigue and the intention to rotate; other than from the experiences narrated by 10 Human Talent in Health explore organizational practices in critical care. RESULTS: The dimension of quality of work life with the greatest dissatisfied was the management of free time (77%), the most compromised psychosocial risk was the pace of work (84%). They have high compassion satisfaction (67%) and there is an intention to migrate to another country (66%). The narrative results in discrimination/harassment as normalized practices and faceless spirituality. The integration of mixed methods shows convergence between the use of the instrument that measures quality of life at work and the narratives of the participants, complementarity with the other instruments, and divergence regarding the intention to rotate to another health institution. CONCLUSION: The positive trend that converges with the two approaches is that of safety at work and well-being achieved through work, embodied in the constant updating of technology and care protocols, experience time, balance between salary and work effort, staffing and supplies, and disconnection with work.

A randomized clinical trial to evaluate the effect of post-intensive care multidisciplinary consultations on mortality and the quality of life at 1 year.

PURPOSE: Critical illness is associated with long-term increased mortality and impaired quality of life (QoL). We assessed whether multidisciplinary consultations would improve outcome at 12 months (M12) after intensive care unit (ICU) discharge. METHODS: We performed an open, multicenter, parallel-group, randomized clinical trial. Eligible are patients discharged alive from ICU in 11 French hospitals between 2012 and 2018. The intervention group had a multidisciplinary face-to-face consultation involving an intensivist, a psychologist, and a social worker at ICU discharge and then at M3 and M6 (optional). The control group had standard post-ICU follow-up. A consultation was scheduled at M12 for all patients. The QoL was assessed using the EuroQol-5 Dimensions-5 Level (Euro-QoL-5D-5L) which includes five dimensions (mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain, and anxiety/depression), each ranging from 1 to 5 (1: no, 2: slight, 3: moderate, 4: severe, and 5: extreme problems). The primary endpoint was poor clinical outcome defined as death or severe-to-extreme impairment of at least one EuroQoL-5D-5L dimension at M12. The information was collected by a blinded investigator by phone. Secondary outcomes were functional, psychological, and cognitive status at M12 consultation. RESULTS: 540 patients were included (standard, n = 272; multidisciplinary, n = 268). The risk for a poor outcome was significantly greater in the multidisciplinary group than in the standard group [adjusted odds ratio 1.49 (95% confidence interval, (1.04-2.13)]. Seventy-two (13.3%) patients died at M12 (standard, n = 32; multidisciplinary, n = 40). The functional, psychological, and cognitive scores at M12 did not statistically differ between groups. CONCLUSIONS: A hospital-based, face-to-face, intensivist-led multidisciplinary consultation at ICU discharge then at 3 and 6 months was associated with poor outcome 1 year after ICU.

"It Kills Your Soul": A Mixed Methods Study of Ethical Sensitivity of Critical Care Nurses.

BACKGROUND: Critically ill patients often experience distressful and impactful symptoms and conditions that include pain, agitation/sedation, delirium, immobility, and sleep disturbances (PADIS). The presence of PADIS can affect recovery and long-term patient outcomes. An integral part of critical care nursing is PADIS prevention, assessment, and management. Ethical sensitivity of everyday nursing practice related to PADIS is an imperative part of implementing evidence-based care for patients. OBJECTIVE: The first 2 aims of this study were to determine the measured level of ethical awareness as an attribute of ethical sensitivity among the critical care nurse participants and to explore the ethical sensitivity of critical care nurses related to the implementation of PADIS care. The third aim was to examine how the measured level of ethical awareness and ethical sensitivity exploration results converge, diverge, and/or relate to each other to produce a more complete understanding of PADIS ethical sensitivity by critical care nurses. METHODS: This was a convergent parallel mixed methods study (QUAL + quant). Ethical sensitivity was explored by conducting an ethnography of critical care nurses. The participants were 19 critical care nurses who were observed during patient care, interviewed individually, participated in a focus group (QUAL), and were administered the Ethical Awareness Scale (quant). FINDINGS: Despite high levels of individual ethical awareness among nurses, themes of ambiguous beneficence, heedless autonomy, and moral distress were found to be related to PADIS care. CONCLUSIONS: More effort is needed to establish moral community, ethical leadership, and individual ethical guidance for nurses to establish patient-centered decision-making and PADIS care.

The use and application of intensive care unit diaries: An instrumental multiple case study.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The study aim was to explore the use of an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) diary within four different ICUs units in Sweden and thereby contribute to practice guidelines regarding the structure, content and use of an ICU diary. BACKGROUND: ICU diaries are used to aid psychological recovery among critical care patients, but differences remain in diary writing both within and across countries. Few studies have focused on the combined views and experiences of ICU patients, family members and nursing staff about the use of ICU diaries. DESIGN: An instrumental multiple case study design was employed. METHODS: Three focus groups interviews were carried out with 8 former patients and their family members (n = 5) from the research settings. Individual interviews were carried out with 2 patients, a family member and a nurse respectively. Observations, field notes, documentary analysis and conversations with nursing staff were also conducted. Consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ) was followed. RESULTS: The qualitative findings firstly consisted of a matrix and descriptive text of the four ICU contexts and current practices. This highlighted that there were similarities regarding the aims and objectives of the diaries. However, differences existed across the case study sites about how the ICU diary was developed and implemented. Namely, the use of photographs and when to commence a diary. Second, a thematic analysis of the qualitative data regarding patients' and family members' use of the ICU diary, resulted in four themes: i) the diary was used to take in and fully understand the situation; ii) the diary was an opportunity to assimilate warm, personalised and human care; iii) the diary was used to manage existential issues; and iv) the diary was a tool in daily activities. CONCLUSIONS: Analysis of the instrumental case study data led to the identification of core areas for inclusion in ICU diary practice guidelines.

Assessing Discomfort in American Adult Intensive Care Patients.

BACKGROUND: While in the intensive care unit, critically ill patients experience a myriad of distressing symptoms and stimuli leading to discomfort, a negative emotional and/ or physical state that arises in response to noxious stimuli. Appropriate management of these symptoms requires a distinct assessment of discomfort-causing experiences. OBJECTIVES: To assess patient-reported discomfort among critically ill patients with the English-language version of the Inconforts des Patients de REAnimation questionnaire, and to explore relationships between demographic and clinical characteristics and overall discomfort score on this instrument. METHODS: This study had a cross-sectional, descriptive, single-cohort design. The convenience sample consisted of alert and oriented patients aged 18 years or older who had been admitted to intensive care units at a Midwestern tertiary referral hospital and were invited to participate. An 18-item questionnaire on physiological and psychological stimuli inducing discomfort was administered once. Each item was scored from 0 to 10, with the total possible discomfort score ranging from 0 to 100. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze participants' demographic and clinical characteristics and questionnaire responses. RESULTS: A total of 180 patients were enrolled. The mean (SD) overall discomfort score was 32.9 (23.6). The greatest sources of discomfort were sleep deprivation (mean [SD] score, 4.0 [3.4]), presence of perfusion catheters and tubing (3.4 [2.9]), thirst (3.0 [3.3]), and pain (3.0 [3.0]). CONCLUSIONS: Intensive care unit patients in this study reported mild to moderate discomfort. Additional research is needed to design and test interventions based on assessment of specific discomfort-promoting stimuli to provide effective symptom management.

Exploring patients' and families' preferences for auditory stimulation in ICU delirium prevention: A qualitative study.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the preferences of patients and families for delirium prevention by auditory stimulation in intensive care units. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY: One-on-one, face-to-face, semistructured interviews with 17 participants (6 patients and 11 family members) were conducted at a step-down unit in a tertiary general hospital using a descriptive qualitative design. The data were analyzed via inductive thematic analysis. RESULTS: Four major themes and ten subthemes emerged from the interviews: (1) reality orientation; (2) emotional support; (3) links to the outside; and (4) promising future. CONCLUSIONS: The results in this qualitative study shed light on patients' and families' preferences for auditory stimulation in preventing ICU delirium. The participation of family members plays a crucial role in preventing ICU delirium. Family members can assist patients in reducing confusion about the situation by providing accurate and clear reality orientation. The emotional support and promising future provided by family members can help patients regain confidence and courage, which are often lacking in ICU patients. Linking patients to the outside world helps them stay connected, understand what is happening outside and reduce feelings of isolation. IMPLICATIONS FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE: These findings can help health care staff gain insight into patients' and families' preferences and needs for auditory stimulation. Furthermore, these findings pave the way for crafting effective auditory interventions.

Incidence rate and risk factors for post-intensive care syndrome subtypes among critical care survivors three months after discharge: A prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the incidence of post-intensive care syndrome subtypes and their risk factors among intensive care unit survivors. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY/DESIGN: This prospective observational cohort study assessed post-intensive care syndrome at three months after discharge in 475 survivors (median age of 62 years, 59.4 % male) admitted for more than 24 hours to 19 intensive care units. SETTING: 19 intensive care units at four university hospitals in Korea. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Three months after discharge, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Posttraumatic Diagnosis Scale, Montreal Cognitive Assessment, and Activities of Daily Living were used to evaluate post-intensive care syndrome. RESULTS: Participants exhibited eight subtypes of post-intensive care syndrome: post-intensive care syndrome free (50.3 %), impaired in physical (3.4 %), mental (13.5 %), cognitive (12.4 %), physical and mental (7.8 %), physical and cognitive (2.3 %), mental and cognitive (4.0 %) and all three domains (6.3 %). Age, unemployment, education, comorbidities, unplanned admission, longer stay, and place of discharge were risk factors for each domain. Age ≥ 65 years (OR 9.234, p < .001), female gender (OR = 5.143, p = .002), two or more comorbidities (OR = 8.701, p = .002), and discharge to an extended care facility (OR = 36.040, p < .001) were associated with increased probability of impairment in all three domains. CONCLUSION: The type with impaired in both mental and physical domains was the most prevalent in cases of co-occurrence. Discharge to an extended care facility was one of the most significant risk factor for the occurrence of each domain and intensity of post-intensive care syndrome. IMPLICATIONS FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE: Nurses must promote prevention strategies by proactively evaluating intensive care unit survivors for post-intensive care syndrome risk factors. Additionally, it is necessary to raise healthcare providers' awareness of post-intensive care syndrome evaluation and management in extended care facilities.

Nursing microtheory in the prevention of delirium in older adult in the intensive care unit. / Microteoría de enfermería en la prevención del delirium en personas mayores en la unidad de cuidados intensivos.

OBJECTIVE: to describe a microtheory for nursing care in the prevention of delirium in older adult in the intensive care unit. METHOD: prescriptive theoretical research, based on substruction. Roy's Adaptation Model constructs were deduced and data from the phenomenon of nursing care in the prevention of delirium in older adult in intensive care were induced, based on an integrative literature review. RESULTS: the microtheory has a theoretical and operational system and a model of care. In the theoretical system, Roy's focal and contextual stimulus constructs were used. From them, the concepts of focal and contextual care and the variable adaptive response to prevention were elaborated. From the relational statements, four axioms, two postulates, eight propositions and an epistemic assumption were elaborated. TWO EMPIRICAL INDICATORS WERE ESTABLISHED IN THE OPERATING SYSTEM: the Confusion Assessment Method for Intensive Care Units and the demographic/clinical history of the older adult. Subsequently, two transformational statements, four hypotheses and the model of care represented in figure were produced. CONCLUSION: the microtheory produced prescribes care in the prevention of delirium in older adult in intensive care, through a construct of interest to nursing, and allows interceptions for the development of instruments that guide nursing activities.

Care intervention on psychological outcomes among patients admitted to intensive care unit: an umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses.

BACKGROUND: Numerous studies have explored care interventions to improve the psychological outcome of intensive care unit (ICU) patients, but inconclusive evidence makes it difficult for decision-makers, managers, and clinicians to get familiar with all available literature and find appropriate interventions. This umbrella review aimed to analyze the relationship between care intervention and psychological outcomes of ICU patients based on existing systematic reviews. METHODS: An umbrella review of evidence across systematic reviews and meta-analyses published between 1987 and 2023 was undertaken. We systematically searched reviews that examined the association between care intervention and the improvement of adverse psychological outcomes in ICU patients using PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and manual reference screening. The measurement tool (AMSTAR 2) was applied to evaluate the methodological quality of included studies. The excess significance bias, between-study heterogeneity expressed by I2, small-study effect, and evidence class were estimated. RESULTS: A total of 5110 articles were initially identified from the search databases and nine of them were included in the analysis. By applying standardized criteria, only weak evidence was observed in 13 associations, even though most included reviews were of moderate to high methodological quality. These associations pertained to eight interventions (music therapy, early rehabilitation, post-ICU follow-up, ICU diary, information intervention, preoperative education, communication and psychological support, surrogate decision-making) and five psychological outcomes (post-intensive care syndrome, transfer anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression). Weak or null association was shown among the rest of the associations (e.g., weak association between music therapy and maternal anxiety or stress level). CONCLUSIONS: The evidence of these eight supporting interventions to improve the adverse psychological outcomes of ICU patients and caregivers was weak. Data from more and better-designed studies with larger sample sizes are needed to establish robust evidence.

A study protocol to develop and test an e-health intervention in follow-up service for intensive care survivors' relatives.

BACKGROUND: The negative impact on long-term health-related outcomes among relatives of critically ill patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) has been well described. High-quality ICU specialized follow-up care, which is easily accessible with digital innovation and which is designed by and with relevant stakeholders (i.e., ICU patients' relatives and nurses), should be considered to reduce these impairments in the psychological and social domains. AIM: The programme's aim is to develop and test an e-health intervention in a follow-up service to support ICU patients' relatives. Here, the protocol for the overall study programme will be described. STUDY DESIGN: The overall study comprises a mixed-methods, multicentre research design with qualitative and quantitative study parts. The study population is ICU patients' adult relatives and ICU nurses. The main outcomes are the experiences of these stakeholders with the newly developed e-health intervention. There will be no predefined selection based on age, gender, and level of education to maximize diversity throughout the study programme. After the participants provide informed consent, data will be gathered through focus groups (n = 5) among relatives and individual interviews (n = 20) among nurses exploring the needs and priorities of a digital follow-up service. The findings will be explored further for priority considerations among members of the patient/relative organization (aiming n = 150), which will serve as a basis for digital prototypes of the e-health intervention. Assessment of the intervention will be followed during an iterative process with investigator-developed questionnaires. Finally, symptoms of anxiety and depression will be measured with the 14-item Dutch version of the 'Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale', and symptoms of posttraumatic stress will be measured with the 21-item Dutch version of the 'Impact of Events Scale-Revised' to indicate the effectiveness of digital support among ICU patients' relatives. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: The e-health intervention to be developed during this research programme can possibly bridge the gap in integrated ICU follow-up care by providing relevant information, self-monitoring and stimulating self-care among ICU patients' relatives.

Effects of an online information tool on post-traumatic stress disorder in relatives of intensive care unit patients: a multicenter double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial (ICU-Families-Study).

PURPOSE: Intensive care unit (ICU) hospitalization is challenging for the family members of the patients. Most family members report some level of anxiety and depression, sometimes even resulting in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). An association has been reported between lack of information and PTSD. This study had three aims: to quantify the psychological burden of family members of critically ill patients, to explore whether a website with specific information could reduce PTSD symptoms, and to ascertain whether a website with information about intensive care would be used. METHOD: A multicenter double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial was carried out in Austria and Switzerland. RESULTS: In total, 89 members of families of critically ill patients (mean age 47.3 ± 12.9 years, female n = 59, 66.3%) were included in the study. 46 relatives were allocated to the intervention website and 43 to the control website. Baseline Impact of Event Scale (IES) score was 27.5 ± 12.7. Overall, 50% showed clinically relevant PTSD symptoms at baseline. Mean IES score for the primary endpoint (~ 30 days after inclusion, T1) was 24 ± 15.8 (intervention 23.9 ± 17.9 vs. control 24.1 ± 13.5, p = 0.892). Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS - Deutsch (D)) score at T1 was 12.2 ± 6.1 (min. 3, max. 31) and did not differ between groups. Use of the website differed between the groups (intervention min. 1, max. 14 vs. min. 1, max. 3; total 1386 "clicks" on the website, intervention 1021 vs. control 365). Recruitment was prematurely stopped in February 2020 due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). CONCLUSION: Family members of critically ill patients often have significant PTSD symptoms and online information on critical illness did not result in reduced PTSD symptoms.

Health-related quality of life after surviving intensive care for COVID-19: a prospective multicenter cohort study.

In survivors of severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) incomplete mental and physical recovery may considerably impact daily activities and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). HRQoL can be evaluated with the RAND-36 questionnaire, a multidimensional instrument that assesses physical and mental aspects of health in eight dimensions. The objective was to investigate HRQoL in intensive care patients previously treated for COVID-19 at three Nordic university hospitals, in a prospective multi-center cohort study. HRQoL was measured using RAND-36, 3-9 months after discharge from intensive care units (ICU). One hospital performed a second follow-up 12 months after discharge. A score under the lower limit of the 95% confidence interval in the reference cohorts was considered as significantly reduced HRQoL. We screened 542 and included 252 patients. There was more than twice as many male (174) as female (78) patients and the median age was 61 (interquartile range, IQR 52-69) years. Hypertension was the most common comorbidity observed in 132 (52%) patients and 121 (48%) patients were mechanically ventilated for a median of 8 (IQR 4-14) days. In RAND-36 physical functioning, physical role functioning, general health (p < 0.001 for all) and social functioning (p < 0.05) were below reference, whereas bodily pain, emotional role functioning and mental health were not. In a time-to-event analysis female sex was associated with a decreased chance of reaching the reference HRQoL in the physical function, bodily pain and mental health dimensions. Higher body mass index was found in the physical functioning dimension and hypertension in the physical functioning, vitality and social functioning dimensions. Similar results were seen for diabetes mellitus in general health, vitality and mental health dimensions, as well as pulmonary illness in the physical role functioning dimension and psychiatric diagnosis in the social functioning dimension. Mechanical ventilation was associated with a decreased likelihood of achieving reference HRQoL in the bodily pain and physical functioning dimensions. Patients treated in an ICU because of COVID-19 had lower HRQoL 3-9 months after ICU discharge than 95% of the general population. Physical dimensions were more severely affected than mental dimensions. Female sex and several comorbidities were associated with a slower rate of recovery.Study registration: clinicaltrials.gov: NCT04316884 registered on the 13th of March 2020, NCT04474249 registered on the 29th of June 2020 and NCT04864938 registered on the 4th of April 2021.

Guideline on multimodal rehabilitation for patients with post-intensive care syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Intensive Care Unit (ICU) survivors often experience several impairments in their physical, cognitive, and psychological health status, which are labeled as post-intensive care syndrome (PICS). The aim of this work is to develop a multidisciplinary and -professional guideline for the rehabilitative therapy of PICS. METHODS: A multidisciplinary/-professional task force of 15 healthcare professionals applied a structured, evidence-based approach to address 10 scientific questions. For each PICO-question (Population, Intervention, Comparison, and Outcome), best available evidence was identified. Recommendations were rated as "strong recommendation", "recommendation" or "therapy option", based on Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation principles. In addition, evidence gaps were identified. RESULTS: The evidence resulted in 12 recommendations, 4 therapy options, and one statement for the prevention or treatment of PICS. RECOMMENDATIONS: early mobilization, motor training, and nutrition/dysphagia management should be performed. Delirium prophylaxis focuses on behavioral interventions. ICU diaries can prevent/treat psychological health issues like anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorders. Early rehabilitation approaches as well as long-term access to specialized rehabilitation centers are recommended. Therapy options include additional physical rehabilitation interventions. Statement: A prerequisite for the treatment of PICS are the regular and repeated assessments of the physical, cognitive and psychological health in patients at risk for or having PICS. CONCLUSIONS: PICS is a variable and complex syndrome that requires an individual multidisciplinary, and multiprofessional approach. Rehabilitation of PICS should include an assessment and therapy of motor-, cognitive-, and psychological health impairments.

[Psychological Consequences of Intensive Care Treatment of COVID-19 in Patients and Relatives]. / Psychische Folgen intensivmedizinischer Behandlung von COVID-19 bei Patienten und Angehörigen.

OBJECTIVE: In this study, treatment- and disease-associated consequences of intensive care treatment of COVID-19 in patients and relatives were investigated and compared with data from the general population and sepsis patients. In addition, dyadic associations in symptoms of patients and relatives were analyzed. METHODS: In a monocentric, prospective, non-controlled observational study, patients who underwent intensive care treatment due to Covid-19 disease at Jena University Hospital between November 2020 and March 2021 and their relatives were included. We assessed the long-term outcome between three and six months after discharge from the intensive care unit (ICU) using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Posttraumatic Stress Scale-14, the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory-10, and the EQ-5D-5L. RESULTS: Seventy-two patients (Mdn 64 years, 67% men) and 56 relatives (Mdn 60 years, 80% women, 80% partners) were included in the study. 39,4% of the patients reported clinically relevant anxiety symptoms, 38,8% depressive symptoms, and 45,1% PTSD symptoms, with most cases having abnormal scores in multiple symptom domains. Among relatives, a smaller proportion had clinically relevant scores (29,2%/15,3%/31,5%). Compared with the general population, Covid 19 patients reported significantly higher anxiety and fatigue scores and a reduced quality of life. In relatives, significantly higher anxiety scores for women and lower quality of life for men were found. Compared to ICU patients with severe sepsis, Covid-19 patients were found to have significantly higher PTSD symptoms and lower quality of life. Significant dyadic associations were found for anxiety and fatigue. DISCUSSION: The results of this study on psychological symptoms after ICU treatment confirm findings from previous studies, but also indicate a stronger PTSD symptomatology, which can be explained by the increased traumatizing potential of isolation and protective measures during treatment. Compared to the general population, particularly elevated anxiety scores of the patients are noticeable, which can be explained by the possible risk of re-infection. CONCLUSION: Psychological long-term consequences of intensive care treatment of Covid-19 disease should be diagnosed and adequately addressed in the outpatient follow-up of affected individuals.

Family participation in essential care activities in adult intensive care units: An integrative review of interventions and outcomes.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To systematically review interventions and outcomes regarding family participation in essential care in adult intensive care units. BACKGROUND: Patients and relatives may benefit from family participation in essential care activities. DESIGN: An integrative literature review. METHODS: The following databases were systematically searched from inception to January 25, 2021: PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Cochrane, Web of Science and reference lists of included articles. Studies were included when reporting on family participation in essential care activities in intensive care including interventions and outcomes. Quality of the studies was assessed with the Kmet Standard Quality Assessment Criteria. Interventions were assessed, using the TIDieR framework. Data were extracted and synthesised narratively. RESULTS: A total of 6698 records were screened, and 322 full-text studies were assessed. Seven studies were included, describing an intervention to support family participation. Four studies had a pretest-posttest design, two were pilot feasibility studies and one was observational. The quality of the studies was poor to good, with Kmet-scores: 0.50-0.86 (possible score: 0-1, 1 being the highest). Five studies offered various essential care activities. One study provided sufficient intervention detail. Outcome measures among relatives varied from mental health symptoms to satisfaction, supportiveness, comfort level and experience. Two studies measured patient outcomes: delirium and pressure ulcers. Among ICU healthcare providers, perception, comfort level and experience were assessed. Since outcome measures varied, only narrative synthesis was possible. Family participation is associated with a reduction of anxiety and PTSD symptoms. CONCLUSION: Intervention descriptions of family participation in essential care activities are generally inadequate and do not allow comparison and replication. Participation of relatives was associated with a significant reduction in mental health symptoms. Other outcome measures varied, therefore, the use of additional outcome measures with validated measurement instruments should be considered. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: The review contributed further insight into interventions aiming at family participation in essential care activities in the intensive care unit and their outcomes. NO PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: Neither patients nor public were involved.

A Survey to Assess Primary Care Physician Awareness of Complications Following Critical Illness.

Background: Survivors of critical illness are at risk for post-intensive care syndrome (PICS, comprised of physical dysfunction, cognitive impairment, and neuropsychiatric disorders including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress). Their family members and caregivers are at risk for PICS-F (PICS-family, comprised of anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress). PICS and PICS-F are increasingly recognized in critical care; however, the awareness among primary providers of the domains and the terms of PICS/PICS-F is unknown. Objectives: To determine current practice patterns and knowledge among primary care physicians in regards to patients recovering from critical illness; to determine barriers to care of post-critically ill patients. Methods: A paper and electronic survey were developed and randomly distributed to a subset of North Carolina primary care physicians. Survey questions consisted of the following domains: demographics, current practice, barriers to providing care, knowledge of common issues/complications following critical illness, and interest in changing care for survivors of critical illness. Results: One hundred and ninety-six surveys were delivered and 77 completed surveys (39% response rate) were analyzed. Respondents confirmed significant barriers to care of post-critically ill patients including lack of awareness of PICS/PICS-F terminology, insufficient time to spend with patients, and inadequate education of patients/families about recovery after critical illness. Fifty-seven percent of respondents thought a specialized transitional post-ICU clinic would be helpful. Sixty-two percent reported feeling comfortable caring for patients after a critical illness and 75% felt they were aware of common problems encountered after critical illness. However, 84% also thought more education about PICS/PICS-F would be helpful as would a list of common problems seen after critical illness (91%). Conclusions: Significant gaps and barriers to providing optimal post-ICU care by PCPs exist. Providers identified time constraints and educational gaps as domains needing attention. Dedicated post-ICU clinics might provide a bridge to transition care post-critical illness back to primary care providers.