A phenomenological study on the experiences of patient transfer from the intensive care unit to general wards.

Alvisa Palese,Eun-Young Lee,Jin-Hee Park

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0254316

Alvisa Palese, Eun-Young Lee + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0254316

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Journal: PloS one	Publication Date: Jul 7, 2021
Citations: 2	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Shinsung University, Ajou University

Abstract

ObjectivesThis study aimed to derive an in-depth understanding of the transfer experience of intensive care unit (ICU) patients in South Korea through a phenomenological analysis.MethodsParticipants were 15 adult patients who were admitted to a medical or surgical ICU at a university hospital for more than 48 hours before being transferred to a general ward. Data were collected three to five days after their transfer to the general ward from January to December 2017 through individual in-depth interviews and were analyzed using Colaizzi’s phenomenological data analysis method, phenomenological reduction, intersubjective reduction, and hermeneutic circle. Data analysis yielded eight themes and four theme clusters related to the unique experiences of domestic ICU patients in the process of transfer to the general ward.ResultsThe four main themes of the patients’ transfer experiences were “hope amid despair,” “gratitude for being alive,” “recovery from suffering,” and “seeking a return to normality.”ConclusionOur findings expand the realistic and holistic understanding from the patient’s perspective. This study’s findings can contribute to the development of appropriate nursing interventions that can support preparation and adaptation to the transfer of ICU patients.

Highlights

In the intensive care unit (ICU), advanced, continuous intensive care is provided based on the severity of patients’ conditions, and this care is directly related to patient survival [1]
Data analysis yielded eight themes and four theme clusters related to the unique experiences of domestic ICU patients in the process of transfer to the general ward
When healthcare professionals decide to transfer a patient from the ICU to a general ward, some patients become anxious believing that it will adversely affect recovery owing to a lack of patient monitoring systems and the nurse-to-patient ratio in the general ward compared to the ICU [5]

Summary

Introduction

In the intensive care unit (ICU), advanced, continuous intensive care is provided based on the severity of patients’ conditions, and this care is directly related to patient survival [1]. When healthcare professionals decide to transfer a patient from the ICU to a general ward, some patients become anxious believing that it will adversely affect recovery owing to a lack of patient monitoring systems and the nurse-to-patient ratio in the general ward compared to the ICU [5]. In these cases, transfers can cause extreme stress in patients. Patientcentered transition care, such as providing prior guidance on planning and timing of the transfer to the general ward and evaluation of relocation stress to reduce patients’ stress and anxiety, is essential

Objectives

Methods

Conclusion