Abstract
Introduction. Keeping patients conscious while mechanically ventilated in intensive care has been shown to improve physical health but also to potentially cause peritraumatic distress and posttraumatic stress disorder. Risk factors for onset of psychological consequences in this population include bothersome symptoms, such as anxiety, delirium, pain, and sleep alteration. Objective. The objective of this study was to describe the acceptability and feasibility of a nursing intervention to prevent onset of peritraumatic distress and post-traumatic stress disorder in conscious intubated patients in intensive care unit by decreasing their bothersome symptoms. Methods. A descriptive design was used to document the perspective of patients (n=9) exposed to the intervention and of the interventionists (n=4) who delivered it. Data on acceptability and feasibility were collected through a self-administered questionnaire completed by participants and from researchers’ field notes. Results. The intervention was deemed acceptable and feasible by patients and interventionists in the intensive care unit environment. Intervention delivery fidelity was maintained by the dedicated interventionists participating in this pilot study. Discussion and conclusion. Mixed-design studies should be undertaken to further document the barriers to and facilitators of intervention implementation in a clinical intensive care unit context and to describe the mechanisms underlying intervention efficacy.
Highlights
Keeping patients conscious while mechanically ventilated in intensive care has been shown to improve physical health and to potentially cause peritraumatic distress and posttraumatic stress disorder
Studies have shown that it does not influence the occurrence of psychological consequences, such as peritraumatic distress (PTD) or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following hospitalization in the intensive care unit (ICU) (Rock, 2014; Samuelson, Lundberg, & Fridlund, 2008)
The prevalence of PTSD symptoms is estimated at 14% to 51% in all mechanically ventilated ICU patients (Bienvenu et al, 2015; Girard et al, 2007; Huang et al, 2016; Kress et al, 2003) and is significantly higher in this group than in the general population, where it ranges from 1.1% to 3.5% (Karam et al, 2014; Kessler, Chiu, Demler, Merikangas, & Walters, 2005; Van Ameringen, Mancini, Patterson, & Boyle, 2008)
Summary
Keeping patients conscious while mechanically ventilated in intensive care has been shown to improve physical health and to potentially cause peritraumatic distress and posttraumatic stress disorder. Objective: The objective of this study was to describe the acceptability and feasibility of a nursing intervention to prevent onset of peritraumatic distress and post-traumatic stress disorder in conscious intubated patients in intensive care unit by decreasing their bothersome symptoms. Objectif : L’objectif de cette étude était de décrire l’acceptabilité et la faisabilité d’une intervention infirmière visant à diminuer les symptômes incommodants chez les patients intubés et conscients aux soins intensifs afin de prévenir l’apparition de la détresse péritraumatique et d’un état de stress post-traumatique dans cette population. Three systematic reviews (Parker et al, 2015; Ratzer, Romano, & Elklit, 2014; Wade, Hardy, Howell, & Mythen, 2013) have identified potentially modifiable risk factors for PTD and PTSD in conscious intubated patients These include the presence of bothersome symptoms such as anxiety, delirium, pain, and sleep alteration. This suggests that interventions could be implemented to prevent these psychological complications in this vulnerable population (McKinley, Fien, Elliott, & Elliott, 2016)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
