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Rationale: Intensive care unit (ICU) nurses work in a demanding environment where they are repetitively exposed to traumatic situations and stressful events. The psychological effects on nurses as a result of working in the ICU are relatively unknown.

Objective: To determine whether there is an increased prevalence of psychological symptoms in ICU nurses when compared with general nurses.

Methods: We surveyed ICU and general nurses from three different hospitals (n = 351) and then surveyed ICU nurses throughout the metropolitan area (n = 140).

Measurements and Main Results: In both cohorts of nurses, we determined the prevalence of symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression using validated survey instruments. Within our hospital system, 24% (54/230) of the ICU nurses tested positive for symptoms of PTSD related to their work environment, compared with 14% (17/121) of the general nurses (p = 0.03). ICU nurses did not report a greater amount of stress in their life outside of the hospital than general nurses. There was no difference in symptoms of depression or anxiety between ICU and general nurses. In the second survey of ICU nurses from our metropolitan area, 29% (41/140) of the respondents reported symptoms of PTSD, similar to our first cohort of ICU nurses.

Conclusions: ICU nurses have an increased prevalence of PTSD symptoms when compared with other general nurses. These results may increase awareness of these symptoms in nurses and lead to future interventions that improve their mental health and job satisfaction and help retain ICU nurses in their profession.

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Delirium, the most common form of acute brain dysfunction affecting up to 80% of intensive care unit (ICU) patients, has been shown to predict long-term cognitive impairment, one of the domains in "Post-ICU Syndrome" (PICS). The ICU environment affects several potentially modifiable risk factors for delirium, such as disorientation and disruption, of the sleep-wake cycle. Innovative solutions aim to transform standard concepts of ICU room design to limit potential stressors and utilizing the patient care space as a treatment tool, exerting positive, therapeutic effects. The main areas affected by most architectural and interior design modifications are sound environment, light control, floor planning, and room arrangement. Implementation of corresponding solutions is challenging considering the significant medical and technical demands of ICUs. This article discusses innovative concepts and promising approaches in ICU design that may be used to prevent stress and to support the healing process of patients, potentially limiting the impact of delirium and PICS.

Brief description of media:

Delirium, the most common form of acute brain dysfunction affecting up to 80% of intensive care unit (ICU) patients, has been shown to predict long term cognitive impairment, one of the domains in "Post-ICU Syndrome" (PICS). The ICU environment affects several potentially modifiable risk factors for delirium, such as disorientation and disruption, of the sleep-wake cycle.
Innovative solutions aim to transform standard concepts of ICU room design to limit potential stressors and utilizing the patient care space as a treatment tool, exerting positive, therapeutic effects. The main areas affected by most architectural and interior design modifications are sound environment, light control, floor planning, and room arrangement. Implementation of corresponding solutions is challenging considering the significant medical and technical demands of ICUs. This article discusses innovative concepts and promising approaches in ICU design that may be used to prevent stress and to support the healing process of patients, potentially limiting the impact of delirium and PICS.

Brief description of media:

Background: There is no consensus on the instruments for diagnosis of post-intensive care syndrome (PICS). We present a proposal for a set of outcome measurement instruments of PICS in outpatient care.

Methods: We conducted a three-round, semi-structured consensus-seeking process with medical experts, followed each by exploratory feasibility investigations with intensive care unit survivors (n1 1⁄4 5; n2 1⁄4 5; n3 1⁄4 7). Fourteen participants from nine stakeholder groups participated in the first and second consensus meeting. In the third consensus meeting, a core group of six clinical researchers refined the final outcome measurement instrument set proposal.

Results: We suggest an outcome measurement instrument set used in a two-step process. First step: Screening with brief tests covering PICS domains of (1) mental health (Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4)), (2) cognition (MiniCog, Animal Naming), (3) physical function (Timed Up-and-Go (TUG), handgrip strength), and (4) health-related quality of life (HRQoL) (EQ-5D-5L). Single items measure subjective health before and after the intensive care unit stay. If patients report new or worsened health problems after intensive care unit discharge and show relevant impairment in at least one of the screening tests, a second extended assessment follows: (1) Mental health (Patient Health Questionnaire-8 (PHQ-8), Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-7 (GAD-7), Impact of Event Scale – revised (IES-R)); (2) cognition (Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS), Trail Making Test (TMT) A and B); (3) physical function (2-Minute Walk Test (2-MWT), handgrip strength, Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB)); and (4) HRQoL (EQ-5D-5L, 12-Item WHO Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS 2.0)).

Conclusions: We propose an outcome measurement instrument set used in a two-step measurement of PICS, combining performance-based and patient-reported outcome measures. First-step screening is brief, free-of-charge, and easily. applicable by health care professionals across different sectors. If indicated, specialized healthcare providers can perform the extended, second-step assessment. Usage of the first-step screening of our suggested outcome measurement instrument set in outpatient clinics with subsequent transfer to specialists is recommended for all intensive care unit survivors. This may increase awareness and reduce the burden of PICS.

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The one-pager helps the ICU medical personnel to screen for ICU delirium among the ICU patients.

Brief description of media:

Introduction
Patients recovering from critical illness have been shown to be at risk of developing Post Traumatic Stress disorder (PTSD). This study was to evaluate whether a prospectively collected diary of a patient's intensive care unit (ICU) stay when used during convalescence following critical illness will reduce the development of new onset PTSD.
Methods
Intensive care patients with an ICU stay of more than 72 hours were recruited to a randomized controlled trial examining the effect of a diary outlining the details of the patient’s ICU stay on the development of acute PTSD. The intervention patients received their ICU diary at 1 month following critical care discharge and the final assessment of the development of acute PTSD was made at 3 months.
Results
352 patients were randomized to the study at 1 month. The incidence of new cases of PTSD was reduced in the intervention group compared to the control patients (5% versus 13%, P = 0.02).
Conclusions
The provision of an ICU diary is effective in aiding psychological recovery and reducing the incidence of new PTSD.

Brief description of media:

Critically ill patients need advanced support to remain alive and prevent serious complications. However, patients may experience either pleasant or unpleasant memories during their stay in ICU. Unpleasant experiences can affect patients or lead to later negative consequences. Critical care nurses have a pivotal role in identifying traumatic experiences in order to improve care. This study aims to explore the intensive care experiences among ICU survivors. This study was conducted in the general wards of three selected hospitals in Malaysia.

One hundred and forty-two(142) participants agreed to take part in this study and to answer the Intensive Care Experience Questionnaire (ICEQ) which included additional questions that covered four domains: awareness of surroundings, frightening experiences, recall of experiences, and satisfaction with care. The results of the study were as follows: Half of the samples reported a high awareness of their surroundings. The less aware group reported not being aware of people, place, and time. About70% (67.6%)of the samples reported high levels of frightening experiences. Pain experienced by the participants came from medical procedures or by the disease process. Only 17.6% of the samples reported being able to recall precisely what happened in the ICU. Participants recalled seeing scary things but having enough sleep in the ICU. The results showed that43.0% reported being highly satisfied with their care and claimed that the staff was kind and delivered the best care to patients.

This result indicates that critically ill patients, especially in the ICU, need strong support physically and psychologically in order to minimize unpleasant experiences and, later, negative consequences by providing a conducive environment and care with sympathetic concern.

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The aim in this literature review is to describe the definitions, denominations, clinical signs and symptoms, explanations, causative factors and interrelationships of the intensive care syndrome discussed since 1950. It was found that there is no agreement about which symptoms should be included in the syndrome when the syndrome may appear and how many patients may be affected. Furthermore, it is unclear what causes the development of the syndrome; most authors conclude that there are many reasons for it. The syndrome has generally been examined by using a medical or psychological approach, but during the last few years it has also been described and analyzed from a nursing care perspective.

Brief description of media:

The aim in this literature review is to describe the definitions, denominations, clinical signs and symptoms, explanations, causative factors, and interrelationships of the intensive care syndrome discussed since 1950. It was found that there is no agreement about which symptoms should be included in the syndrome when the syndrome may appear and how many patients may be affected. Furthermore, it is unclear what causes the development of the syndrome; most authors conclude that there are many reasons for it. The syndrome has generally been examined by using a medical or psychological approach, but during the last few years it has also been described and analyzed from a nursing care perspective.

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It is now well established that many patients ‏and caregivers suffer physical, psychological ‏and social problems in the years ‏and months following critical care discharge ‏(Herridge et al. 2011). Similar to many centres, ‏our intensive care unit (ICU) had no follow-up ‏service available to support patients through this ‏difficult recovery period (Griffiths et al. 2006). ‏To understand how best to create a service ‏that was safe, effective, and person-centred, ‏two members of our multidisciplinary team ‏(MDT) undertook research programs to ‏help identify the problems that patients faced ‏after ICU and to help understand the context ‏for change (Quasim et al. 2015; McPeake et ‏al. 2016).
From this work, four main challenges were ‏identified:
• There is minimal evidence of how and ‏when rehabilitation services should ‏be delivered (Mehlhorn et al. 2010), ‏despite an abundance of literature ‏describing the issues for ICU survivors ‏and their families.
• The hardships facing ICU patients ‏are often not apparent to hospital ‏management. Readmissions to hospital, ‏increased general practitioner (family ‏physician) visitations and the increased ‏reliance on welfare benefits are distributed ‏amongst a variety of budgets, ‏which do not necessarily appear related ‏to an ICU admission.
• Finding staff with the time and ability ‏to do something new that is different ‏from their traditional ICU role can be ‏problematic.
• Finding physical space with a suitable ‏area to hold a rehabilitation programme ‏can be difficult.

Brief description of media:

Objective: An intensive care unit (ICU) diary is a relatively new concept in low middle-income countries (LMICs). Illiteracy and socio-cultural inhibitions may affect the use and utility of this intervention, which has proven beneficial to patients and their families in high income countries (HICs). We aimed to explore how families of ICU patients experienced ICU diaries in our set up by using the Grounded Theory (GT) approach. A relatively new research tool, this enables exploration of a phenomenon to build theories in areas hitherto uncharted.

Method: A clinical psychologist did 29 in-depth interviews of relatives of 13 patients admitted in the ICU for > 24 h for whom an ICU diary was being maintained. We used a three-step coding process- open, axial, and selective coding, followed by the formulation of a theory embedded in the data.

Results: We found that the younger relatives of ICU patients accepted the idea better (age 30, SD 6) Half (48%) had education between 5th to 10th standards. Emergent themes suggested that for the family members, reading and writing the diary brought novelty, acted as a communication enabler, spiritual truss, and improved knowledge leading to change in perspective about the health care system. It also became a bridge to community bonding after patient discharge. Starting with appreciating the novelty of ‘diary entries,’ which was a new and exciting concept, family members used the diaries to communicate with health care workers (to gain information and understanding about the disease and treatment) and the patient to express their love and to maintain a connection. The diary acted as a confessional for hopes, fears, guilt, and faith for many members. As a tool, it enabled them to understand medical personnel as human beings and to appreciate their efforts, effectively improving confidence in the system. Finally, upon returning home, the diary was a crowd puller for extended family and neighbors encouraging discussions and enhancing bonding and information sharing.

Conclusions: Our findings indicate a good acceptance of ICU diaries by family members in our ICU. With less literate, admitted ‘shy ‘members, in a society where ‘diary writing’ is not culturally rampant, the appreciation for the novel concept was universal. We see a place for these interventions not only at the patient/ family level but also as a means to ‘correct’ the image of health care workers in our society by humanizing ourselves to the end-user- the patient and his family.

Brief description of media:

Delirium is one of the most common behavioral manifestations of acute brain dysfunction in the intensive care unit (ICU) and is a strong predictor of worse outcome. Routine monitoring for delirium is recommended for all ICU patients using validated tools. In delirious patients, a search for all reversible precipitants is the first line of action and pharmacologic treatment should be considered when all causes have been ruled out, and it is not contraindicated. Long-term morbidity has significant consequences for survivors of critical illness and for their caregivers. ICU patients may develop posttraumatic stress disorder related to their critical illness experience.