ICU patients' recall of emotional reactions in the trajectory from falling critically ill to hospital discharge : follow-ups after 3 and 12 months

• Patients' memories of frightening ICU experiences may be a threat to later psychological recovery. The purpose of the study is to describe ICU patients' recall of their emotional reactions, from falling critically ill to hospital discharge; this at 3 and 12 months following discharge from the ICU. The study is qualitative and concerns eight ICU patients ventilated for more than 72h. The participants were interviewed twice and the data were subjected to qualitative content analysis. It emerged that the memories of emotions during the trajectory of critical illness were extensive, detailed and strong, and that unpleasant emotions were clearly stable over time. At 12 months as compared with 3 months, the unpleasant emotions were less intense and had less prominent; furthermore the ICU care was more greatly associated with a sense of security, and there was greater recall of caring doctors and nurses (though not of their names) as well as next of kin. CONCLUSIONS: The study generated knowledge not previously described about how ICU patients' recollection of their emotions during the trajectory of critical illness changes over time. This has implications regarding future study of patients' ICU memories and regarding patients' need for support in coping with such memories.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Anestesi och intensivvård (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Anesthesiology and Intensive Care (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Kirurgi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Surgery (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Omvårdnad (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Nursing (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Intensive care

Intensivvård

MEDICINE

MEDICIN

Surgery

Kirurgi

Kirurgi

Surgery

emotional reactions

Nursing

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)