Patients' perceptions of and emotional outcome after intensive care: results from a multicentre study

Janice Rattray (Lead / Corresponding author), Cheryl Crocker, Martyn Jones, John Connaghan

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    75 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Background: Recovery from critical illness can be prolonged and can result in a number of significant short-and long-term psychological consequences. These may be associated with the patient's perception of the intensive care experience.

    Aim: The aims of the study were to assess patients' perceptions of their intensive care unit (ICU) experience and the effect of these on anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress up to 6 months after discharge.

    Method: One hundred and three participants were recruited from six ICUs from one Critical Care Network in the United Kingdom. A prospective, longitudinal study was designed to assess anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress symptomatology and patients' perceptions of their intensive care experience. Data were collected on three occasions: after intensive care discharge and before hospital discharge, and 2 months and 6 months later. Measures included the impact of events scale, hospital anxiety and depression scale and intensive care experience questionnaire.

    Results: Anxiety, depression, avoidance and intrusion scores did not significantly reduce over time. At hospital discharge there was a significant association between patients' perceptions of their intensive care experience and anxiety, depression, avoidance and intrusion scores at hospital discharge.

    Conclusion: Standardised assessment of an intensive care experience is important. It provides information about the patient experience which can inform care practice within ICU, following discharge to the ward and, in the longer term, rehabilitation.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)86-93
    Number of pages8
    JournalNursing in Critical Care
    Volume15
    Issue number2
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2010

    Keywords

    • Emotional outcome
    • Critical care
    • Patient experience

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Patients' perceptions of and emotional outcome after intensive care: results from a multicentre study'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this