From: Improving the intensive care experience from the perspectives of different stakeholders
Discovering a “new world” | Open/flexible visiting policies |
Coping with medical jargon | Use family leaflets and digital materials |
Difficulties in understanding information (inadequate timing, language barriers, contradictory information) | Improve communication skills |
Reporting impersonal information | Adapt words, use reformulation (tell-ask-tell), and when necessary, an interpreter |
Psychological distress at any time during the ICU stay: | Allow more time for information |
Acute stress | Develop empathetic communication, verbal and nonverbal communication |
Anxiety | Encourage |
Depression | Personalization |
Peritraumatic dissociation | Agency |
Psychological distress in the months that follow ICU discharge: | Togetherness |
Anxiety | Sense-making |
Depression | Regular interprofessional family meetings, including the nurse |
PTSD | Family End of Life conference (VALUE acronym) |
Complicated grief | Nurse communication facilitator |
Other difficulties | Physician and nurse support strategy before, during and after the patient’s death |
Sleep disorders and sleepiness | Available psychologist |
Managing family and work life | Available social worker |
Financial stress | |
Transfer anxiety |