Remote Communication in ICUs during COVID-19
A systematic review to give voice to unheard narratives
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the absence of family members in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) significantly disrupted communication and care delivery. Families, traditionally vital in addressing patients' complex needs, faced sudden separation due to stringent visiting restrictions, challenging the established norms of support and involvement in patient care.
Studies underscored the adverse impact of this separation, with bereaved families expressing distress due to discontinuity in relationships and limited support networks. The burden fell on ICU staff to bridge the communication gap, yet the heavy workload and protective measures hindered effective connections between families and healthcare teams.
Remote communication became the lifeline, relying on telecommunication systems and innovative strategies like video calls or bespoke applications to reconnect families and patients.
While these remote methods provided essential access, they posed challenges such as technical issues and limited emotional connection.
A systematic review by Fernández-Martínez et al. highlighted interventions facilitating communication in ICUs during COVID-19, emphasising telecommunication systems' use. However, it did not address the lived experiences of critically ill patients, families, and healthcare professionals navigating these remote strategies.
Consequently, a crucial gap remains in understanding the qualitative experiences of those reliant on remote communication in ICUs during the pandemic. Unveiling these narratives is imperative to shape equitable, evidence-based policies and care strategies for future crises.
A forthcoming systematic review aims to address this void by synthesizing the lived experiences of those impacted, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of remote communication's nuances in critical care settings.
Through this exploration, the authors of the systematic review aspire to uncover the unspoken challenges, emotional journeys, and practical implications faced by patients, families, and healthcare teams reliant on remote communication in ICUs. This endeavour aims to guide future strategies, ensuring inclusivity, quality, and access to compassionate care during unprecedented healthcare challenges.
The team’s goal is to inform policies and practices, learning from the profound experiences of those navigating critical care amidst distancing, providing invaluable insights for more resilient, patient-centric healthcare systems in times of crisis.
The protocol can be accessed in the December 2023 issue of JBI Evidence Synthesis:
Cardoso, Ana Filipa; Pires, Miguel Grilo; Cioga, Elisabete; Abalroado, Inês; Santos, Diana; Duque, Filipa Margarida; Loureiro, Ricardo; Felizardo, Helena; Fernandes, António Manuel; Silva, Rosa; Ventura, Filipa; Santana, Elaine; Cardoso, Daniela; Loureiro, Luís
JBI Evidence Synthesis. 21(12):2455-2464, December 2023