Unidentified communication challenges in the intensive care unit: A qualitative study using multiple triangulations

BackgroundCommunication in the intensive care unit is challenged by patients’ inability to speak owing to intubation, treatment, and illness. Research has focused on the use of communication tools or techniques, characteristics of the communication between patients and clinicians, and their experiences of communication challenges. However, few studies have combined the perspectives of patients, family members, and clinicians. We explored communication from different angles and investigated challenges that cannot be explained by ineffective use of aids and communication techniques.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to explore communication between patients, family members, and nurses and to investigate previously unidentified communication challenges.MethodsThis study used a case-oriented design with multiple triangulations. It was conducted in two general intensive care units at a Norwegian university hospital. Participant observations were conducted on nine mechanically ventilated patients while communicating with family members and healthcare personnel. Following the observations, individual interviews were conducted with six patients, six family members, and nine healthcare personnel.FindingsCommunication often seemed uncomplicated at the time of observations, but information from the interviews revealed another picture. We demonstrate what participants emphasised differently when they discussed their experiences, revealing a discrepancy in perceived importance in the situation. Family members had an important role in interpreting signs from the patient, uncovering challenges that would have been unknown to the nurses otherwise.ConclusionsThis study illustrates how communication challenges in the intensive care unit may not be perceptible to an observer or to all of the participants involved at the time of the communication. Nurses need to be aware of these communication challenges and realise that the patient might face issues that cannot be easily solved without extensive involvement of the patient, family, and nurses, and perhaps not even until a later stage in the patient's recovery process.     

Person-centred care among intensive care unit nurses: A cross-sectional study

ObjectivePractising person-centred care is crucial for nurses in the intensive care unit, as patients have high physical and psychological care needs. We aimed to identify the predictors of person-centred care among nurses working in intensive care settings.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, 188 intensive care unit nurses at four tertiary hospitals in two cities of South Korea were included. They completed self-reported questionnaires on emotional intelligence, compassion satisfaction, secondary traumatic stress, burnout, and person-centred care. Emotional intelligence was measured using the Korean version of the Wong and Law’s emotional intelligence scale. Compassion satisfaction, secondary traumatic stress, and burnout were measured by the Professional Quality of Life questionnaire (version 5). Person-centred care was measured using the person-centred critical care nursing scale.ResultsMultiple regression identified compassion satisfaction (β = 0.49, p <.001) as the most powerful predictor of person-centred care, followed by emotional intelligence (β = 0.21, p =.004) and intensive care unit career length (β = 0.17, p =.021). These three variables accounted for 31.0 % of the variance in person-centred care.ConclusionsThis study highlights the importance of career length, emotional intelligence, and compassion satisfaction in the promotion of person-centred care among intensive care unit nurses. Nursing management should contemplate specific measures to reduce turnover among experienced intensive care unit nurses and to enhance the factors that promote person-centred care, such as compassion satisfaction and emotional intelligence.     

The relationship between person-centred care and the intensive care unit experience of critically ill patients: A multicentre cross-sectional survey

BackgroundPerson-centred care has the potential to improve the patient experience in the intensive care unit (ICU). However, the relationship between person-centred care perceived by critically ill patients and their ICU experience has yet to be determined.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between person-centred care and the ICU experience of critically ill patients.MethodsThis study was a multicentre, cross-sectional survey involving 19 ICUs of four university hospitals in Busan, Korea. The survey was conducted from June 2019 to July 2020, and 787 patients who had been admitted to the ICU for more than 24 hours participated. We measured person-centred care using the Person-Centered Critical Care Nursing perceived by Patient Questionnaire. Participants' ICU experience was measured by the Korean version of the Intensive Care Experience Questionnaire that consists of four subscales. We analysed the relationship between person-centred care and each area of the ICU experience using multivariate linear regression.ResultsPerson-centred care was associated with ‘awareness of surroundings’ (β = 0.29, p < .001), ‘frightening experiences’ (β = ?0.31, p < .001), and ‘satisfaction with care’ (β = 0.54, p < .001). However, there was no significant association between person-centred care and ‘recall of experience’.ConclusionsWe observed that person-centred care was positively related to most of the ICU experiences of critically ill patients except for recall of experience. Further studies on developing person-centred nursing interventions are needed.     

Nurse decision-making when managing noradrenaline in the intensive care unit: A naturalistic observational study

ObjectiveIntensive care nurses care for critically ill patients in a complex, fast paced environment. Management of noradrenaline (norepinephrine) is core business for intensive care nurses and nurse decision-making on noradrenaline is poorly understood. The study objective was to investigate decision-making processes nurses use when caring for intensive care unit patients receiving noradrenaline.Research MethodologyA qualitative exploratory design used the Cognitive Continuum Theory as a framework for naturalistic observations and interviews in two medical/surgical intensive care units in Melbourne, Australia.Main Outcome MeasuresObservational and interview data from field notes and audiovisual recordings were transcribed and coded to develop themes using reflexive thematic analysis.FindingsFourteen nurse and patient dyads were recruited to observational sessions from December 2019 to June 2021. Three major themes developed were Learning through doing; Individualised patient care; and Clinical expertise, with six supporting sub-themes. Nurses learned to manage noradrenaline experientially and developed titration and weaning strategies to support decision-making. Blood pressure targets and monitor alarms were used consistently to aid decision-making processes. Nurses were observed practicing across the cognitive continuum depending on knowledge structure, complexity of interventions, response time, and patient acuity.ConclusionExperiential learning of complex and high-risk interventions in the absence of guidelines or algorithms meant nurses developed their own titration and weaning strategies based on constant evaluation and re-evaluation of patient cues. Patient heterogeneity, cue ambiguity and a dynamic practice environment contributed to decision-making complexity that would benefit from development of evidence-based practice resources.Implications for Clinical PracticeNurses learn to manage noradrenaline through experiential learning, using blood pressure targets and monitor alarms to support decision-making when titrating and weaning noradrenaline. Nurses develop noradrenaline titration and weaning strategies to support decision-making in the absence of guidelines or algorithms. Supporting nurse decision-making and streamlining practice would reduce practice variation and cognitive workload.     

A comparison of the opinions of intensive care unit staff and family members of the treatment intensity received by patients admitted to an intensive care unit: A multicentre survey

BackgroundAchieving shared decision-making in the intensive care unit (ICU) is challenging because of limited patient capacity, leading to a reliance on surrogate decision-makers. Prior research shows that ICU staff members often perceive that patients receive inappropriate or futile treatments while some surrogate decision-makers of patients admitted to the ICU report inadequate communication with physicians. Therefore, understanding the perceptions of both ICU staff and surrogate decision-makers around wishes for ICU treatments is an essential component to improve these situations.ObjectivesThe objectives of this study were to compare perceptions of ICU staff with surrogate decision-makers about the intensity and appropriateness of treatments received by patients and analyse the causes of any incongruence.MethodsA multicentred, single-day survey of staff and surrogate decision-makers of ICU inpatients was conducted across four Australian ICUs in 2014. Patients were linked to a larger prospective observational study, allowing comparison of patient outcomes.ResultsTwelve of 32 patients were identified as having a mismatch between staff and surrogate decision-maker perceptions. For these 12 patients, all 12 surrogate decision-makers believed that the treatment intensity the patient was receiving was of the appropriate intensity and duration. Mismatched patients were more likely to be emergency admissions to ICU compared with nonmismatched patients (0.0% vs 42.1%, p = 0.012) and have longer ICU admissions (7.5 vs 3, p = 0.022). There were no significant differences in perceived communication (p = 0.61).ConclusionsFamily members did not share the same perceptions of treatment with ICU staff. This may result from difficulty in prognostication; challenges in conveying poor prognoses to surrogate decision-makers; and the accuracy of surrogate decision-makers.     

Long-term cognitive impairment and delirium in intensive care: A prospective cohort study

Background

Whilst there is a growing body of research exploring the effect of delirium in intensive care unit (ICU) patients, the relationship between patient delirium and long-term cognitive impairment has not been investigated in settings where low rates of delirium have been reported.

Intra-hospital transfer anxiety of patients in the neurosurgery intensive care unit: A prospective cohort study

BackgroundTransferring a patient from the intensive care unit to different locations within the hospital can cause transfer anxiety. Transfer anxiety is an important factor that adversely affects various physiological and psychological parameters.ObjectiveThe aim of the study is to evaluate the intra-hospital transfer anxiety of patients in a neurosurgery intensive care unit and factors affecting it.MethodsThis prospective cohort study was conducted between November 2021 and June 2022 in a neurosurgery intensive care unit in Istanbul. A total of 171 adult patients who stayed in the intensive care unit for at least 24 h, with a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 14 and above and who had undergone their first intra-hospital transfer were included. Patients’ vital signs were recorded, and their anxiety levels were assessed using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory.ResultsThe mean age of the patients was 53.16 ± 15.51 years and 56.72% were women, 75.43% of transfers were performed during the day and 64.32% of patients were transferred to an in-patient ward. Factors affecting transfer anxiety were gender, employment status, timing, and purpose of transfer (p < 0.05). Blood pressures and heart rates tended to increase during transfer and decrease again after transfer, while oxygen saturation decreased during transfer (p = 0.035) and increased again after transfer (p < 0.001). State anxiety levels were moderate before transfer and decreased to mild level after transfer (p < 0.001).ConclusionsThe transfer process increased anxiety and caused changes in the vital signs of intensive care patients. Individual and transfer-related factors may influence transfer anxiety. Patients should be monitored for transfer anxiety and nursing interventions to reduce anxiety should be planned.Implications for clinical practiceThe patients’ demographics and transfer details can influence transfer anxiety. Transfer anxiety can affect both subjective parameters and objective measures such as vital signs. Patients at risk of transfer anxiety should be identified before transfers so that nursing interventions to reduce anxiety can therefore be planned.     

Characterizing critical care physician staffing in rural America: A description of Iowa intensive care unit staffing

Purpose

This study aimed to characterize intensive care unit (ICU) physician staffing patterns in a predominantly rural state.

Materials and Methods

A prospective telephone survey of ICU nurse managers in all Iowa hospitals with an ICU was conducted.

Results

Of 122 Iowa hospitals, 64 ICUs in 58 (48%) hospitals were identified, and 46 (72%) responded to the survey. Most ICUs (96%) used an open admission model and cared for undifferentiated medical and surgical patients (88%), and only 27% of open ICUs required critical care or pulmonary consultation for admitted patients. Most (59%) Iowa ICUs had a critical care physician or pulmonologist available, and high-intensity staffing was practiced in 30% of ICUs. Most physicians identified as practicing critical care (63%) were not board certified in critical care. Critical care physicians were available in a minority of hospitals routinely for inpatient intubation and cardiac arrest management (29% and 10%, respectively), and emergency physicians and other practitioners commonly responded to emergencies throughout the hospital.

Conclusions

Many Iowa hospitals have ICUs, and staffing patterns in Iowa ICUs mirror closely national staffing practices. Most ICUs are multispecialty, open ICUs in community hospitals. These factors should inform training and resource allocation for intensivists in rural states.     

A 6-y retrospective cohort study of family satisfaction with critical care and decision-making in an Australian intensive care unit

BackgroundPartnering with patients and families to make decisions about care needs is a safety and quality standard in Australian health services that is often not assessed systematically.ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to retrospectively evaluate satisfaction with care and involvement in decision-making among family members of patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU).MethodsA retrospective cohort analysis of a satisfaction survey administered to family members of patients admitted to an ICU in an Australian metropolitan tertiary care hospital from 2014 to 2019 was conducted. The Family Satisfaction in the Intensive Care Unit questionnaire (FSICU) questionnaire was used to assess overall satisfaction, satisfaction with care, and satisfaction with decision-making on a scale from “poor” (0) to “excellent” (100).ResultsIn total, 1322 family members fully completed the survey. Respondents were typically direct relatives of ICU patients (94.2%) with an average age of 52.6 years. Most patients had an ICU length of stay <7 d (56.8%), with most patients being discharged to the ward (96.8%). The overall mean satisfaction score was high among respondents (90.26%). Similarly, mean satisfaction with care (93.06%) and decision-making (89.71%) scores were high. Satisfaction with decision-making scores remained lower than satisfaction with care scores. Multivariable modeling indicated that those younger than 50 years reported higher satisfaction scores (p = 0.006) and those with prolonged lengths of stay in the ICU were associated with lower overall satisfaction scores (p = 0.039). Despite some criticism of waiting times and noise levels, responses showed sincere gratitude for patients’ treatment in the ICU and appreciation for the care, skill, and professionalism of the staff.ConclusionVery high satisfaction levels were reported by family members during this study. Routine, prospective evaluations of family member satisfaction with ICU experiences are feasible and can be leveraged to provide insight for clinicians and administrators seeking to improve family satisfaction with decision-making and care in ICU settings and meet national standards.     

How qualitative research can contribute to research in the intensive care unit

A qualitative research design can provide unique contributions to research in the intensive care unit. Qualitative research includes the entire process of research: the methodology (conceptualization of the research question, choosing the appropriate qualitative strategy, designing the protocol), methods (conducting the research using qualitative methods within the chosen qualitative strategy, analysis of the data, verification of the findings), and writing the narrative. The researcher is the instrument and the data are the participants' words and experiences that are collected and coded to present experiences, discover themes, or build theories. A number of strategies are available to conduct qualitative research and include grounded theory, phenomenology, case study, and ethnography. Qualitative methods can be used to understand complex phenomena that do not lend themselves to quantitative methods of formal hypothesis testing. Qualitative research may be used to gain insights about organizational and cultural issues within the intensive care unit and to improve our understanding of social interaction and processes of health care delivery. In this article, we outline the rationale for, and approaches to, using qualitative research to inform critical care issues. We provide an overview of qualitative methods available and how they can be used alone or in concert with quantitative methods. To illustrate how our understanding of social phenomena such as patient safety and behavior change has been enhanced we use recent qualitative studies in acute care medicine.