Critical Illness Survivors' Voices on Post-ICU Care Experiences
Beyond survival
The road to recovery after surviving critical illness can be arduous, with many patients experiencing lingering challenges, leading to what is now recognised as post-intensive care syndrome.
Post-intensive care syndrome encompasses a range of issues, from cognitive and mental health struggles to physical limitations and social isolation, affecting a significant proportion of critical illness survivors.
Despite the recognised value of post-ICU care, the current structures and timings of these services vary widely globally. This diversity leads to varied patient experiences and preferences, raising questions about the ideal format, frequency, and location of follow-up care for the most effective and patient-centric approaches.
Research into ICU follow-up services has primarily focused on the impact of critical illness on quality of life and the effectiveness of these services in improving outcomes. However, there is a gap in understanding the direct experiences of patients attending these follow-up services. Existing systematic reviews haven't delved into the patient perspective, potentially contributing to limited evidence on the effectiveness of such services.
Recognising the significance of patient involvement in enhancing healthcare services, a systematic review is underway, which aims to explore critical illness survivors' direct experiences with ICU follow-up services post-discharge. The goal is to understand their viewpoints comprehensively, encompassing aspects such as satisfaction, challenges faced, preferred timings and structures, and the impact of these services on their recovery journey.
By comprehensively understanding survivors' perspectives, the systematic review seeks to bridge the gap between current service provisions and patient needs, aiming for a more patient-centric approach to post-ICU care. This endeavour holds the potential to reshape follow-up services, making them more effective, accessible, and aligned with survivors' requirements, ultimately aiming for improved health outcomes and better overall experiences post-critical illness.
The protocol for the systematic review can be accessed in the December 2023 issue of JBI Evidence Synthesis:
Delaney, Shauna; Cook, Jessica-Eustace; Ryberg, Melanie; O’Donnell, Sharon; Byrne, Gobnait
JBI Evidence Synthesis. 21(12):2438-2445, December 2023