The intensive care unit environment from the perspective of medical, allied health and nursing clinicians: A qualitative study to inform design of the 'ideal' bedspace

The effect of an improved ICU physical environment on outcomes and post-ICU recovery-a protocol

BACKGROUND

Intensive care medicine continues to improve, with advances in technology and care provision leading to improved patient survival. However, this has not been matched by similar advances in ICU bedspace design. Environmental factors including excessive noise, suboptimal lighting, and lack of natural lights and views can adversely impact staff wellbeing and short- and long-term patient outcomes. The personal, social, and economic costs associated with this are potentially large. The ICU of the Future project was conceived to address these issues. This is a mixed-method project, aiming to improve the ICU bedspace environment and assess impact on patient outcomes. Two innovative and adaptive ICU bedspaces capable of being individualised to patients' personal and changing needs were co-designed and implemented. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of an improved ICU bedspace environment on patient outcomes and operational impact.

METHODS

This is a prospective multi-component, mixed methods study including a randomised controlled trial. Over a 2-year study period, the two upgraded bedspaces will serve as intervention beds, while the remaining 25 bedspaces in the study ICU function as control beds. Study components encompass (1) an objective environmental assessment; (2) a qualitative investigation of the ICU environment and its impact from the perspective of patients, families, and staff; (3) sleep investigations; (4) circadian rhythm investigations; (5) delirium measurements; (6) assessment of medium-term patient outcomes; and (7) a health economic evaluation.

DISCUSSION

Despite growing evidence of the negative impact the ICU environment can have on patient recovery, this is an area of critical care medicine that is understudied and commonly not considered when ICUs are being designed. This study will provide new information on how an improved ICU environment impact holistic patient recovery and outcomes, potentially influencing ICU design worldwide.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ACTRN12623000541606. Registered on May 22, 2023. https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=385845&isReview=true .

Preliminary Development of Items for a Nurses' Physical Environmental Stress Scale

RESEARCH PURPOSE

This study aimed to develop a preliminary Nurses' Physical Environmental Stress Scale (NPESS) that explores the relationships between the physical environment in the intensive care unit (ICU) and work-related stress among ICU nurses.

BACKGROUND

Working within the healthcare field is stressful and comes with a high level of responsibility for nurses, especially ICU nurses. The ICU work environment is associated with risk factors such as excessive workload, increased expectations, and long working hours that can lead to burnout among nurses. There is some evidence that environmental design has the potential to prevent or mitigate work-related stress; however, an adequate assessment tool to identify physical environmental stressors or supports for moderating stress is lacking.

METHODS

To develop the preliminary environmental assessment tool, an exploratory sequential methodology was used. The approach consisted of three distinct phases, including (a) a qualitative content analysis of existing focus group data, (b) a qualitative content analysis of pertinent literature related to environmental assessment tools in a healthcare context, and (c) the development and refinement of the NPESS assessment tool. Tool refinement was based on interviews with ICU nurses.

RESULTS

The resulting NPESS tool was comprised of seven sections (sounds, lighting, smells, staff respite spaces, staff workspaces, patient rooms, and aesthetic qualities) containing a total of and 81 items that address factors that were identified as potential moderators of environmental stress in ICU settings.

CONCLUSIONS

The resulting NPESS assessment tool provides a feasible approach for evaluating ICU settings to identify possible improvements to reduce stress among nurses. Future research will be conducted to assess the validity and reliability of the final tool by distributing it to a larger sample of ICU nurses.

From bedside to recovery: exercise therapy for prevention of post-intensive care syndrome

BACKGROUND

As advancements in critical care medicine continue to improve Intensive Care Unit (ICU) survival rates, clinical and research attention is urgently shifting toward improving the quality of survival. Post-Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS) is a complex constellation of physical, cognitive, and mental dysfunctions that severely impact patients' lives after hospital discharge. This review provides a comprehensive and multi-dimensional summary of the current evidence and practice of exercise therapy (ET) during and after an ICU admission to prevent and manage the various domains of PICS. The review aims to elucidate the evidence of the mechanisms and effects of ET in ICU rehabilitation and highlight that suboptimal clinical and functional outcomes of ICU patients is a growing public health concern that needs to be urgently addressed.

MAIN BODY

This review commences with a brief overview of the current relationship between PICS and ET, describing the latest research on this topic. It subsequently summarises the use of ET in ICU, hospital wards, and post-hospital discharge, illuminating the problematic transition between these settings. The following chapters focus on the effects of ET on physical, cognitive, and mental function, detailing the multi-faceted biological and pathophysiological mechanisms of dysfunctions and the benefits of ET in all three domains. This is followed by a chapter focusing on co-interventions and how to maximise and enhance the effect of ET, outlining practical strategies for how to optimise the effectiveness of ET. The review next describes several emerging technologies that have been introduced/suggested to augment and support the provision of ET during and after ICU admission. Lastly, the review discusses future research directions.

CONCLUSION

PICS is a growing global healthcare concern. This review aims to guide clinicians, researchers, policymakers, and healthcare providers in utilising ET as a therapeutic and preventive measure for patients during and after an ICU admission to address this problem. An improved understanding of the effectiveness of ET and the clinical and research gaps that needs to be urgently addressed will greatly assist clinicians in their efforts to rehabilitate ICU survivors, improving patients' quality of survival and helping them return to their normal lives after hospital discharge.

The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Context and the Perceived Soundscape: A Grounded Theory Approach

BACKGROUND

Studies address excessive sound levels and their adverse effects on infants in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). However, objective measurements represent merely one aspect of the acoustic environment, and investigations into staff's perceptions of the acoustic environment remain scarce in the NICU context. A holistic approach, soundscape, is needed to explore the acoustic environment in-depth.

AIM

This study aims to (1) contribute to indoor soundscape literature and inform decision-makers of future NICU design and research by focusing on staff members' perceptions of the soundscape and (2) explore whether there is a relationship between staff members' perceptions of soundscapes and the built and acoustic environments of one NICU.

METHODS

Following the ISO/TS 12913-2/3 protocols, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 NICU staff members and analyzed using the grounded theory to generate a conceptual framework for NICU soundscapes.

RESULTS

The results indicated that the task-related sounds, including false alarms, were neutrally responded to as they evoked acceptance and adaptation behaviors. The sound sources perceived as irrelevant were responded to negatively. NICU staff indicated that although they expect to hear alarms clearly, specific features of alarms caused several physiological and psychological problems.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of the study revealed the importance of conducting a soundscape approach to investigate NICU acoustic environment in detail. The study showed that staff members' perceptions and responses primarily depend on the context rather than on sound levels.

Evaluation of the sensory environment in a large tertiary ICU

BACKGROUND

ICU survival is improving. However, many patients leave ICU with ongoing cognitive, physical, and/or psychological impairments and reduced quality of life. Many of the reasons for these ongoing problems are unmodifiable; however, some are linked with the ICU environment. Suboptimal lighting and excessive noise contribute to a loss of circadian rhythms and sleep disruptions, leading to increased mortality and morbidity. Despite long-standing awareness of these problems, meaningful ICU redesign is yet to be realised, and the 'ideal' ICU design is likely to be unique to local context and patient cohorts. To inform the co-design of an improved ICU environment, this study completed a detailed evaluation of the ICU environment, focussing on acoustics, sound, and light.

METHODS

This was an observational study of the lighting and acoustic environment using sensors and formal evaluations. Selected bedspaces, chosen to represent different types of bedspaces in the ICU, were monitored during prolonged study periods. Data were analysed descriptively using Microsoft Excel.

RESULTS

Two of the three monitored bedspaces showed a limited difference in lighting levels across the day, with average daytime light intensity not exceeding 300 Lux. In bedspaces with a window, the spectral power distribution (but not intensity) of the light was similar to natural light when all ceiling lights were off. However, when the ceiling lights were on, the spectral power distribution was similar between bedspaces with and without windows. Average sound levels in the study bedspaces were 63.75, 56.80, and 59.71 dBA, with the single room being noisier than the two open-plan bedspaces. There were multiple occasions of peak sound levels > 80 dBA recorded, with the maximum sound level recorded being > 105 dBA. We recorded one new monitor or ventilator alarm commencing every 69 s in each bedspace, with only 5% of alarms actioned. Acoustic testing showed poor sound absorption and blocking.

CONCLUSIONS

This study corroborates other studies confirming that the lighting and acoustic environments in the study ICU were suboptimal, potentially contributing to adverse patient outcomes. This manuscript discusses potential solutions to identified problems. Future studies are required to evaluate whether an optimised ICU environment positively impacts patient outcomes.

Creating the ICU of the future: patient-centred design to optimise recovery

BACKGROUND

Intensive Care survival continues to improve, and the number of ICU services is increasing globally. However, there is a growing awareness of the detrimental impact of the ICU environment on patients, families, and staff. Excessive noise and suboptimal lighting especially have been shown to adversely impact physical and mental recovery during and after an ICU admission. Current ICU designs have not kept up with advances in medical technology and models of care, and there is no current 'gold-standard' ICU design. Improvements in ICU designs are needed to optimise care delivery and patient outcomes.

METHODS

This manuscript describes a mixed-methods, multi-staged participatory design project aimed at redesigning and implementing two innovative ICU bedspaces. Guided by the action effect method and the consolidated framework for implementation research, the manuscript describes the processes taken to ensure the patient-centred problems were properly understood, the steps taken to develop and integrate solutions to identified problems, and the process of implementation planning and rebuilding in a live ICU.

RESULTS

Two innovative ICU bedspaces were rebuilt and implemented. They feature solutions to address all identified problems, including noise reduction, optimisation of lighting, access to nature via digital solutions, and patient connectivity and engagement, with solutions developed from various specialty fields, including IT improvements, technological innovations, and design and architectural solutions. Early evaluation demonstrates an improved lighting and acoustic environment.

CONCLUSIONS

Optimising the ICU bedspace environment and improving the lighting and acoustic environment is possible. The impact on patient outcomes needs to be evaluated.

Effects of immersive virtual reality on sensory overload in a random sample of critically ill patients

Background

Sensory overload and sensory deprivation have both been associated with negative health outcomes in critically ill patients. While there is a lack of any clear treatment or prevention strategies, immersive virtual reality is a promising tool for addressing such problems, but which has not been repetitively tested in random samples. Therefore, this study aimed to determine how critically ill patients react to repeated sessions of immersive virtual reality.

Methods

This exploratory study was conducted in the mixed medical-surgical intermediate care unit of the University Hospital of Bern (Inselspital). Participants (N = 45; 20 women, 25 men; age = 57.73 ± 15.92 years) received two immersive virtual reality sessions via a head-mounted display and noise-canceling headphones within 24 h during their stay in the unit. Each session lasted 30-min and showed a 360-degree nature landscape. Physiological data were collected as part of the participants' standard care, while environmental awareness, cybersickness, and general acceptance were assessed using a questionnaire designed by our team (1 = not at all, 10 = extremely).

Results

During both virtual reality sessions, there was a significant negative linear relationship found between the heart rate and stimulation duration [first session: r(43) = -0.78, p < 0.001; second session: r(38) = -0.81, p < 0.001] and between the blood pressure and stimulation duration [first session: r(39) = -0.78, p < 0.001; second session: r(30) = -0.78, p < 0.001]. The participants had a high comfort score [median (interquartile range {IQR}) = 8 (7, 10); mean = 8.06 ± 2.31], did not report being unwell [median (IQR) = 1 (1, 1); mean = 1.11 ± 0.62], and were not aware of their real-world surroundings [median (IQR) = 1 (1, 5); mean = 2.99 ± 3.22].

Conclusion

The subjectively reported decrease in environmental awareness as well as the decrease in the heart rate and blood pressure over time highlights the ability of immersive virtual reality to help critically ill patients overcome sensory overload and sensory deprivation. Immersive virtual reality can successfully and repetitively be provided to a randomly selected sample of critically ill patients over a prolonged duration.

Nursing experiences in antimicrobial optimisation in the intensive care unit: A convergent analysis of a national survey

BACKGROUND

Recent evidence highlights the need for an interdisciplinary approach to antimicrobial stewardship (AMS). Nursing involvement in optimising antimicrobials in the intensive care unit (ICU) remains understudied.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to explore nurses' perceptions and experiences of antimicrobial optimisation or stewardship in ICUs in Australia.

METHODS

An anonymous web-based survey was deployed nationally in early 2021 through two ICU nursing networks. Associations between survey responses were analysed descriptively and by using nonparametric tests (with statistical significance established at p ≤ 0.05). Free-text survey responses underwent qualitative thematic analysis. Interpretation and reporting of quantitative and qualitative data were integrated.

RESULTS

A total of 226 ICU nurses completed the survey. The majority (197/226; 87%) responded that lack of education limits engagement in AMS. Only 13% (30/226) reported the presence of AMS education and training for nurses in their ICUs. Only about half (108/226; 48%) of the nurses were confident to question prescribers when they considered that the antimicrobial prescribed was unnecessary, with nurses in senior roles more likely to do so than nurses providing bedside care (p < 0.05). Gaps in education (including unfamiliarity with AMS roles), noninclusive antimicrobial discussions, moral distress, and potential workload burden were seen as potential barriers/challenges to engagement.

CONCLUSION

The multifactorial barriers identified that inhibit nurses from performing AMS tasks could be addressed by strengthening interprofessional education at all levels and by applying practical AMS interventions that are inclusive for nursing participation. A purposeful culture change that fosters psychological safety and collaborative practice is paramount to supporting nurses in these roles.

The Burnout of Nurses in Intensive Care Units and the Impact of the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: A Scoping Review

BACKGROUND

The world's population changed with the emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Burnout arises due to overwork, prolonged work periods, a lack of human and material resources, etc. Several studies have reported the incidence of burnout syndrome in nurses that work in intensive care units (ICUs). The aim was to map the scientific evidence related to nurses' burnout in the ICU, namely the repercussions of SARS-CoV-2 in terms of burnout among nurses.

METHODS

A scoping review followed the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology guidelines to search for and synthesise studies published between 2019 and 2022. The databases searched were MEDLINE, CINAHL, LILACS, SCOPUS, PsycINFO and OPEN GREY. A total of fourteen articles were eligible to be included.

RESULTS

A content analysis of the selected articles was carried out, and three categories emerged that corresponded to the dimensions of burnout according to Maslach and Leiter: emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation dimension and a lack of personal accomplishment. It was evident that nurses who worked in the ICU during the pandemic showed high levels of burnout.

CONCLUSIONS

It is recommended that hospital administrations hire health professionals, namely nurses, as a strategic and operational management strategy to reduce the risk of increased burnout during pandemic outbreaks.

Patient aggression in intensive care: A qualitative study of staff experiences

BACKGROUND

Workplace violence comprises abuse, assaults, threats, and harassment. Reaching epidemic proportions in healthcare, workplace violence compromises staff and patient safety and service efficiency and effectiveness. Although workplace violence is a nontrivial problem in intensive care, little is known about circumstances in which violence occurs in this setting.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to describe and reflect upon aggression towards staff in the intensive care unit (ICU) from the perspectives of staff members.

METHODS

We investigated workplace violence in a qualitative study with data collected from semistructured interviews with 19 staff members of a 10-bed ICU, analysed using a framework approach.

FINDINGS

All participants reported witnessing or experiencing physical and/or verbal aggression. While acknowledging that 'any patient' could become aggressive, participants differentiated 'any patients admitted for treatment of somatic illnesses' from 'dangerous' patients and interpreted violence differently dependent on characteristics of perpetrators. 'Dangerousness' was associated with patients who had a comorbid mental illness. Aggression of 'dangerous patients' was construed as intentional and/or 'normal aberrant' behaviour for the individual. Staff reported feeling ill-prepared to work effectively with this cohort and having difficulty responding empathically. Mental health services were considered 'responsible' for managing patients' drug use, personality, and psychiatric problems.

CONCLUSION

Perceived knowledge and skill deficits, as well as stigma when engaging with certain subpopulations, contribute to workplace violence in the ICU setting. ICU staff members seek education and support to improve management of patients and reduce risk of violence. However, effectiveness depends on robust service and organisational commitment and strategies to promote workplace health and safety.

Critical Care Nurses' Perceptions of Clinical Alarm Management on Nursing Practice

The alarm management of physiological monitoring systems is a key responsibility of critical care nurses. However, the high numbers of false and nonactionable (true but clinically irrelevant) alarms cause distractions to healthcare professionals, interruptions to nursing workflow, and ignoring of crucial tasks. Therefore, understanding how nurses manage large amounts of alarms in their daily work could provide a direction to design interventions to prevent adverse patient care effects. A qualitative design with focus group interviews was conducted with 37 nurses in Taiwan. Content analysis was performed to analyze the interview data, and four main themes were derived: (1) the foundation stone of critical care nursing practice; (2) a trajectory adaptation of alarms management; (3) adverse impacts on the quality of care and patient safety; and (4) a hope for multimodal learning alternatives and wireless technology. Nurses manage alarm parameter settings influenced not only by their knowledge and skills of patient care, but also in accordance with the three dimensions of technology, human, and organization evaluation framework. Customized alarm management training alternatives, patient-centered care values, and application of wireless technology are the suggested approaches to enhance nursing care and minimize the risk of adverse events.

A qualitative study of medical-surgical intensive care unit nurses’ experiences in caring for critical patients

ABSTRACT Objective: To describe the meaning attributed to nurses’ clinical experience in a medical-surgical intensive care unit in Northern Cyprus. Method: The qualitative study was conducted in two medical-surgical intensive care units at a university hospital. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with 17 nurses. Giorgi’s descriptive phenomenological approach was used to analyze nurses’ experiences. The consolidated criteria for reporting a qualitative research checklist were followed in this study. Results: The data analysis led to the extraction of the 5 themes and 19 subthemes. The themes identified for the study were competence, the emotional universe, stress resources, the meaning of nursing care, and profoundly affecting events. The study results show that the nurses expressed that having gained much experience in intensive care units and working there has contributed significantly to their professional development. Conclusion: It was indicated that the nurses had meaningful, caring experiences in intensive care units, which were perceived, however, as stressful experiences as well. The study has important implications for nurses, faculty members, and administrators to gain positive care experiences in terms of intensive care units.

Características del síndrome post cuidado intensivo: revisión de alcance

Objetivo: identificar la evidencia disponible de las características del síndrome post unidad de cuidado intensivo en el paciente que egresa de la unidad de cuidado intensivo. Método: revisión de alcance con la metodología del Joanna Briggs Institut, en cinco bases de datos con la estrategia de búsqueda ([PostIntensive AND Care AND Syndrome] [Nursing AND Care AND PICS]). Se incluyeron estudios primarios publicados entre los años 2010 y 2020, disponibles en texto completo. Resultados: después del análisis de los 48 estudios primarios se extrajeron seis categorías temáticas así: aspecto cognitivo en el síndrome post UCI, osteomusculares, psicoemocionales, estrategias de prevención con modelos de sobrevivientes de UCI, síndrome post unidad cuidado intensivo en la familia y herramientas de evaluación. Conclusiones: mejorar la calidad de atención de los pacientes que presentan este síndrome, prevenir la aparición y aumentar la calidad de vida prestada a los sobrevivientes de UCI y sus familias. La evidencia reporta que entre los cuidadores se pueden desencadenar distintos trastornos que disminuyen su calidad de vida. La enfermería juega un papel crucial en la prevención de la aparición del síndrome mediante estrategias en la UCI e interdisciplinares; los planes de egreso y seguimiento a los pacientes pueden lograr que estos se rehabiliten más rápido y eviten discapacidades o secuelas a largo plazo.