Survivorship outcomes for critically ill patients in Australia and New Zealand: A scoping review

INTRODUCTION

Impairments after critical illness, termed the post-intensive care syndrome, are an increasing focus of research in Australasia. However, this research is yet to be cohesively synthesised and/or summarised.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this scoping review was to explore patient outcomes of survivorship research, identify measures, methodologies, and designs, and explore the reported findings in Australasia.

INCLUSION CRITERIA

Studies reporting outcomes for adult survivors of critical illness from Australia and New Zealand in the following domains: physical, functional, psychosocial, cognitive, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), discharge destination, health care use, return to work, and ongoing symptoms/complications of critical illness.

METHODS

The Joanna Briggs Institute scoping review methodology framework was used. A protocol was published on the open science framework, and the search used Ovid MEDLINE, Scopus, ProQuest, and Google databases. Eligible studies were based on reports from Australia and New Zealand published in English between January 2000 and March 2022.

RESULTS

There were 68 studies identified with a wide array of study aims, methodology, and designs. The most common study type was nonexperimental cohort studies (n = 17), followed by studies using secondary analyses of other study types (n = 13). HRQoL was the most common domain of recovery reported. Overall, the identified studies reported that impairments and activity restrictions were associated with reduced HRQoL and reduced functional status was prevalent in survivors of critical illness. About 25% of 6-month survivors reported some form of disability. Usually, by 6 to12 months after critical illness, impairments had improved.

CONCLUSIONS

Reports of long-term outcomes for survivors of critical illness in Australia highlight that impairments and activity limitations are common and are associated with poor HRQoL. There was little New Zealand-specific research related to prevalence, impact, unmet needs, ongoing symptoms, complications from critical illness, and barriers to recovery.

Australian general practitioners' views on qualities that make effective discharge communication: a scoping review

Transitions of patient care between hospital discharge and primary care are known to be an area of high-risk where communication is imperative for patient safety. Discharge summaries are known to often be incomplete, delayed and unhelpful for community healthcare providers. The aim of this review was to identify and map the literature which discusses Australian general practitioners' (GPs) views on the qualities that make up effective discharge communication. Medline, Scopus and the Cochrane register of controlled drug trails and systematic reviews were searched for publications until October 2021 that discussed Australian GPs' views on discharge communication from hospital to general practice. Of 1696 articles identified, 18 met inclusion and critical appraisal criteria. Five studies identified that GPs view timeliness of discharge summary receipt to be a problem. Communication of medication information in the discharge summary was discussed in six studies, with two reporting that GPs view reasons for medication changes to be essential. Five studies noted GPs would prefer to receive clinical discipline or diagnosis specific information. Four studies identified that GPs viewed the format and readability of discharge summaries to be problematic, with difficulties finding salient information. The findings of this scoping review indicate that GPs view timeliness, completeness, readability, medication related information and diagnosis/clinical discipline specific information to be qualities that make up effective discharge communication from hospital to the community. There are opportunities for further research in perspectives of effective discharge communication, and future studies on interventions to improve discharge communication, patient safety and policy in transfers of care.

Experiences, opinions and expectations of health care providers towards an intensive care unit follow-up clinic: Qualitative study and online survey

OBJECTIVES

Independent of the underlying disease, intensive care unit survivors often suffer from cognitive, physical and mental impairments, also known as post-intensive care syndrome (PICS). Specific follow-up services are recommended for these patients. This study aims to capture the perspectives of health care providers on the development of the first intensive care unit follow-up-clinic in Germany.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

A qualitative study with six focus groups (n = 41) and six expert interviews, followed by a quantitative survey was conducted, involving nine different professions. Qualitative and quantitative data were analysed using thematic analysis and descriptive statistics, respectively.

FINDINGS

Participants described aftercare of former intensive care unit patients as complex and appreciated the idea of an intensive care unit follow-up clinic to improve continuity of care and multidisciplinary collaboration. The favoured model combined diagnostics and targeted referral of patients to specialists and therapists with the provision of information. In the survey, participants disagreed on how to implement this referral system but agreed that assessments should be multidimensional.

CONCLUSION

The necessity of and important criteria for the design of an intensive care unit follow-up clinic were identified. We will integrate these data with further evidence to develop a concept for a complex intervention.

Health care use before and after intensive care unit admission-A nationwide register-based study

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to describe healthcare utilization of patients admitted to ICU before and after ICU admission.

METHODS

Register-based study including adult patients discharged from ICU between January 1st, 2011 and December 31st, 2014. Reference group was a sex- and age-matched population not admitted to an ICU in the study period. Outcomes were hospital admissions, contacts to general practitioner or emergency services and municipality services from 1 year before ICU admission and up to 3 years after.

RESULTS

The study included 82 384 patients and an equal number of reference persons. Of patients with ICU admission, 48% were married (reference group 57%), 48% had elementary school education (reference group 38%) and 18% had a Charlson co-morbidity score of 5+ (4% in reference group). We found that 51% of patients with an ICU admission had been admitted to hospital in the year before ICU admission (reference group 15%) and 97% had a contact to a general practitioner (reference group 89%) in the same period.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients admitted to an ICU had increased use of both primary and secondary health care both before and for years after ICU treatment, even after adjustment for comorbidities and socio-economic factors.

General practitioners' views and experiences in caring for patients after sepsis: a qualitative interview study

BACKGROUND

Patients surviving critical illnesses, such as sepsis, often suffer from long-term complications. After discharge from hospital, most patients are treated in primary care. Little is known how general practitioners (GPs) perform critical illness aftercare and how it can be improved. Within a randomised controlled trial, an outreach training programme has been developed and applied.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study is to describe GPs' views and experiences of caring for postsepsis patients and of participating a specific outreach training.

DESIGN

Semistructured qualitative interviews.

SETTING

14 primary care practices in the metropolitan area of Berlin, Germany.

PARTICIPANTS

14 GPs who had participated in a structured sepsis aftercare programme in primary care.

RESULTS

Themes identified in sepsis aftercare were: continuity of care and good relationship with patients, GP's experiences during their patient's critical illness and impact of persisting symptoms. An outreach education as part of the intervention was considered by the GPs to be acceptable, helpful to improve knowledge of the management of postintensive care complications and useful for sepsis aftercare in daily practice.

CONCLUSIONS

GPs provide continuity of care to patients surviving sepsis. Better communication at the intensive care unit-GP interface and training in management of long-term complications of sepsis may be helpful to improve sepsis aftercare.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

ISRCTN61744782.

Factors associated with employment outcome after critical illness: Systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression

AIMS

To synthesize data on prevalence and risk factors for return to work (RTW) in ICU survivors.

DESIGN

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

DATA SOURCES

PUBMED, CINAHL, EMBASE and PsycINFO databases were searched from 2000-Feb 2020.

REVIEW METHODS

Peer-reviewed articles that included adult ICU survivors and employment outcomes. Two investigators independently reviewed articles following the PRISMA protocol. Pooled prevalence for RTW was calculated. Meta-regression analyses were performed to assess the association between disability policies, temporal factors and RTW following ICU.

RESULTS

Twenty-eight studies (N = 8,168) met the inclusion criteria. All studies were scored as 'low risk of bias'. Using meta-analysis, the proportion (95% CI) of RTW following ICU was 29% (0.20,0.42), 59% (0.50,0.70), 56% (0.50,0.62), 63% (0.54,0.72), 58% (0.37,0.91), 58% (0.42,0.81), and 44% (0.25,0.76) at 3, 4-6, 7-12, 13-24, 25-36, 37-48, and 49-60 months, respectively. Time and disability policy support are factors associated with the proportion of ICU survivors who RTW. Through meta-regression, there is a 20% increase (95% CI: 0.06, 0.33) in the proportion of individuals who RTW per year. However, the average rate of increase slows by 4% (-0.07, -0.1) per year. In countries with high support policies, the proportion of RTW is 32% higher compared with countries with low support policies (0.08, 0.24). However, as subsequent years pass, the additional proportion of individuals RTW in high support countries declines (β = -0.06, CI: -0.1, -0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

Unemployment is common in ICU survivors. Countries with policies that give higher support for disabled workers have a higher RTW proportion to 3 years following ICU admission. However, from 3-5 years, there is a shift to countries with lower support policies having better employment outcomes.

IMPACT

Health care policies have an impact on RTW rate in survivors of ICU. Healthcare providers, including nurses, can function as public advocates to facilitate policy change.

The association of intensive care with utilization and costs of outpatient healthcare services and quality of life

Background

Little is known about outpatient health services use following critical illness and intensive care. We examined the association of intensive care with outpatient consultations and quality of life in a population-based sample.

Methods

Cross-sectional analysis of data from 6,686 participants of the Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP), which consists of two independent population-based cohorts. Statistical modeling was done using Poisson regression, negative binomial and generalized linear models for consultations, and a fractional response model for quality of life (EQ-5D-3L index value), with results expressed as prevalence ratios (PR) or percent change (PC). Entropy balancing was used to adjust for observed confounding.

Results

ICU treatment in the previous year was reported by 139 of 6,686 (2,1%) participants, and was associated with a higher probability (PR 1.05 [CI:1.03;1.07]), number (PC +58.0% [CI:22.8;103.2]) and costs (PC +64.1% [CI:32.0;103.9]) of annual outpatient consultations, as well as with a higher number of medications (PC +37.8% [CI:17.7;61.5]). Participants with ICU treatment were more likely to visit a specialist (PR 1.13 [CI:1.09; 1.16]), specifically internal medicine (PR 1.67 [CI:1.45;1.92]), surgery (PR 2.42 [CI:1.92;3.05]), psychiatry (PR 2.25 [CI:1.30;3.90]), and orthopedics (PR 1.54 [CI:1.11;2.14]). There was no significant effect regarding general practitioner consultations. ICU treatment was also associated with lower health-related quality of life (EQ-5D index value: PC -13.7% [CI:-27.0;-0.3]). Furthermore, quality of life was inversely associated with outpatient consultations in the previous month, more so for participants with ICU treatment.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that ICU treatment is associated with an increased utilization of outpatient specialist services, higher medication intake, and impaired quality of life.

Dutch ICU survivors have more consultations with general practitioners before and after ICU admission compared to a matched control group from the general population

Background

General Practitioners (GPs) play a key role in the healthcare trajectory of patients. If the patient experiences problems that are typically non-life-threatening, such as the symptoms of post-intensive-care syndrome, the GP will be the first healthcare professional they consult. The primary aim of this study is to gain insight in the frequency of GP consultations during the year before hospital admission and the year after discharge for ICU survivors and a matched control group from the general population. The secondary aim of this study is to gain insight into differences between subgroups of the ICU population with respect to the frequency of GP consultations.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study, combining a national health insurance claims database and a national quality registry for ICUs. Clinical data of patients admitted to an ICU in 2013 were enriched with claims data from the years 2012, 2013 and 2014. Poisson regression was used to assess the differences in frequency of GP consultations between the ICU population and the control group.

Results

ICU patients have more consultations with GPs during the year before and after admission than individuals in the control group. In the last four weeks before admission, ICU patients have 3.58 (CI 3.37; 3.80) times more GP consultations than the control group, and during the first four weeks after discharge they have 4.98 (CI 4.74; 5.23) times more GP consultations. In the year after hospital discharge ICU survivors have an increased GP consultation rate compared to the year before their hospital admission.

Conclusions

Close to hospital admission and shortly after hospital discharge, the frequency of GP consultations substantially increases in the population of ICU survivors. Even a year after hospital discharge, ICU survivors have increased GP consultation rates. Therefore, GPs should be well informed about the problems ICU patients suffer after discharge, in order to provide suitable follow-up care.

Cost-effectiveness of a quality improvement bundle for emergency laparotomy

BACKGROUND

The recent Emergency Laparotomy Pathway Quality Improvement Care (ELPQuiC) study showed that the use of a specific care bundle reduced mortality in patients undergoing emergency laparotomy. However, the costs of implementation of the ELPQuiC bundle remain unknown. The aim of this study was to assess the in-hospital and societal costs of implementing the ELPQuiC bundle.

METHODS

The ELPQuiC study employed a before-after approach using quality improvement methodology. To assess the costs and cost-effectiveness of the bundle, two models were constructed: a short-term model to assess in-hospital costs and a long-term model (societal decision tree) to evaluate the patient's lifetime costs (in euros).

RESULTS

Using health economic modelling and data collected from the ELPQuiC study, estimated costs for initial implementation of the ELPQuiC bundle were €30 026·11 (range 1794·64-40 784·06) per hospital. In-hospital costs per patient were estimated at €14 817·24 for standard (non-care bundle) treatment versus €15 971·24 for the ELPQuiC bundle treatment. Taking a societal perspective, lifetime costs of the patient in the standard group were €23 058·87, compared with €19 102·37 for patients receiving the ELPQuiC bundle. The increased life expectancy of 4 months for patients treated with the ELPQuiC bundle was associated with cost savings of €11 410·38 per quality-adjusted life-year saved.

CONCLUSION

Implementation of the ELPQuiC bundle is associated with lower mortality and higher in-hospital costs but reduced societal costs.

The effect of intensive care unit admission on smokers' attitudes and their likelihood of quitting smoking

We sought to estimate the proportion of patients admitted to a metropolitan intensive care unit (ICU) who were current smokers, and the relationships between ICU survivors who smoked and smoking cessation and/or reduction six months post-ICU discharge. We conducted a prospective cohort study at a metropolitan level III ICU in Melbourne, Victoria. One hundred consecutive patients who met the inclusion criteria were included in the study. Inclusion criteria consisted of patients who were smokers at time of ICU admission, had an ICU length of stay greater than one day, survived to ICU discharge, and provided written informed consent. A purpose-designed questionnaire which included the Fagerstrom test for nicotine dependence and evaluation of patients' attitude towards smoking cessation was completed by participants following ICU discharge and prior to hospital discharge. Participants were re-interviewed over the phone at six months post-ICU discharge. Of the 1,062 patients admitted to ICU, 253 (23%) were current smokers and 100 were enrolled. Six months post-ICU discharge, 28 (33%) of the 86 participants who were alive and contactable had quit smoking and 35 (41%) had reduced smoking. The median number of reported cigarettes smoked per day reduced by 40%. Participants who initially believed their ICU admission was smoking-related were more likely to have quit six months post-ICU discharge (odds ratio 2.98; 95% confidence interval 1.07 to 8.26; <i>P</i>=0.036). Six months post-ICU discharge, 63/86 (74%) of participants had quit or reduced their smoking. Further research into targeted smoking cessation counselling for ICU survivors is indicated.

A feasibility study of functional status and follow-up clinic preferences of patients at high risk of post intensive care syndrome

After prolonged mechanical ventilation patients may experience the 'post intensive care syndrome' (PICS) and may be candidates for post-discharge follow-up clinics. We aimed to ascertain the incidence and severity of PICS symptoms in patients surviving prolonged mechanical ventilation and to describe their views regarding follow-up clinics. In a teaching hospital, we conducted a cohort study of all adult patients discharged alive after ventilation in ICU for ≥7 days during 2013. We administered the EuroQol-5D (EQ-5D) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) via telephone interview and asked patients their views about the possible utility of a follow-up clinic. We studied 48 patients. At follow-up (average 19.5 months), seven (15%) patients had died and 14 (29%) did not participate (eight declined; two were non-English speakers; four were non-contactable). Among the 27 responders, 16 (59%) reported at least moderate problems in ≥1 EQ-5D dimension; 10 (37%) in ≥2 dimensions, and 8 (30%) in ≥3 dimensions. Moreover, 10 (37%) patients reported marked psychological symptoms; six (22%) scored borderline or abnormal on the HADS for both anxiety and depression; and four (15%) scored borderline or abnormal for one component. Finally, 21/26 (81%) patients stated that an ICU follow-up clinic would have been beneficial. At long-term follow-up, the majority of survivors of prolonged mechanical ventilation reported impaired quality of life and significant psychological symptoms. Most believed that a follow-up clinic would have been beneficial.

Long-term treated intensive care patients outcomes: the one-year mortality rate, quality of life, health care use and long-term complications as reported by general practitioners

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to determine the one-year mortality rate and its predictors regarding long-term intensive care-treated patients together with their health-related quality of life (HRQL), place of living, healthcare use and long-term complication characteristics after intensive care unit (ICU) discharge.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study was performed in a 20-bed mixed ICU. The patients that were treated for more than 72 h between 2007 and 2012 were included in this study. The one-year mortality rate was calculated, and the characteristics of the ICU survivors that died within one year after ICU discharge were further analysed. For all patients, the Dutch version of the SF-36 questionnaire was used to assess their current HRQL. The results were compared with a normal population. Additionally, patients were questioned about their place of living, and their general practitioners (GPs) were questioned about the patients' possible long-term complications.

RESULTS

Seven hundred and forty patients were included in this study, and their one-year mortality rate was 28 %, of which half died within the first week after ICU discharge. The one-year mortality rate predictors included age at the time of ICU admission, APACHE IV-predicted mortality score, number of comorbidities and ICU re-admissions. The ICU survivor HRQL was significantly lower compared with the normal population. Half of the patients did not return to their pre-hospital place of living, and numerous possible long-term complications were reported, particularly decreased tolerance, chronic fatigue and processing problems of relatives.

CONCLUSIONS

One-year mortality rate of long-term ICU-treated patient was 28 %, and this was predicted by age, disease severity, comorbidities and ICU re-admissions. The ICU survivors reported a lower HRQL, and a minority of these patients returned home directly after hospital discharge; however, GPs reported numerous possible long-term complications.

Healthcare resource utilisation by critically ill older patients following an intensive care unit stay

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

This study examines the utilisation of healthcare resources by critically ill older patients over one year following an intensive care unit stay.

BACKGROUND

Information on healthcare resource utilisation following intensive care unit treatment is essential during times of limited financial resources.

DESIGN

Prospective longitudinal nonrandomised study.

METHODS

Healthcare resource utilisation by critically ill older patients (≥65 years) was recorded during one year following treatment in a medical-surgical intensive care unit. Age-matched community-based participants served as comparison group. Data were collected at one-week following intensive care unit discharge/study recruitment and after 6 and 12 months. Recorded were length of stay, (re)admission to hospital or intensive care unit, general practitioner and medical specialist visits, rehabilitation program participation, medication use, discharge destination, home health care service use and level of dependence for activities of daily living.

RESULTS

One hundred and forty-five critically ill older patients and 146 age-matched participants were recruited into the study. Overall, critically ill older patients utilised more healthcare resources. After 6 and 12 months, they visited general practitioners six times more frequently, twice as many older patients took medications and only the intensive care unit group patients participated in rehabilitation programs (n = 99, 76%). The older patients were less likely to be hospitalised, very few transferred to nursing homes (n = 3, 2%), and only 7 (6%) continued to use home healthcare services 12 months following the intensive care unit stay.

CONCLUSIONS

Critically ill older patients utilise more healthcare resources following an intensive care unit stay, however, most are able to live at home with no or minimal assistance after one year.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

Adequate healthcare resources, such as facilitated access to medical follow-up care, rehabilitation programs and home healthcare services, must be easily accessible for older patients following hospital discharge. Nurses need to be aware of the healthcare services available and advise patients accordingly.

The use, prevalence and potential benefits of a diary as a therapeutic intervention/tool to aid recovery following critical illness in intensive care: a literature review

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

To critically appraise the available literature and summarise the evidence related to the use, prevalence, purpose and potential therapeutic benefits of intensive care unit diaries following survivors' discharge from hospital and identify areas for future exploration.

BACKGROUND

Intensive care unit survivorship is increasing as are associated physical and psychological complications. These complications can impact on the quality of life of survivors and their families. Rehabilitation services for survivors have been sporadically implemented and lack an evidence base. Patient diaries in intensive care have been implemented in Scandinavia and Europe with the intention of filling memory gaps, enable survivors to set realistic recovery goals and cement their experiences in reality.

DESIGN

A review of original research articles.

METHODS

The review used key terms and Boolean operators across a 34-year time frame in: CIHAHL, Medline, Scopus, Proquest, Informit and Google Scholar for research reports pertaining to the area of enquiry. Twenty-two original research articles met the inclusion criteria for this review.

RESULTS

The review concluded that diaries are prevalent in Scandinavia and parts of Europe but not elsewhere. The implementation and ongoing use of diaries is disparate and international guidelines to clarify this have been proposed. Evidence which demonstrates the potential of diaries in the reduction of the psychological complications following intensive care has recently emerged. Results from this review will inform future research in this area.

CONCLUSIONS

Further investigation is warranted to explore the potential benefits of diaries for survivors and improve the evidence base which is currently insufficient to inform practice. The exploration of prospective diarising in the recovery period for survivors is also justified.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

Intensive care diaries are a cost effective intervention which may yield significant benefits to survivors.

Never ending stories: visual diarizing to recreate autobiographical memory of intensive care unit survivors

AIM

The aim of this study was to explore the potential use of visual diarizing to enable intensive care unit (ICU) survivors to create their story of recovery.

BACKGROUND

An ICU experience can have deleterious psychological and physical effects on survivors leading to reductions in quality of life which for some may be of significant duration. Although there has been exploration of many interventions to support recovery in this group, service provision for survivors remains inconsistent and inadequate.

DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS

A qualitative interpretive biographical exploration of the ICU experience and recovery phase of ICU survivors using visual diarizing as method. This paper is a component of a larger study and presents an analyses of one participant's visual diary in detail.

METHODS

Data collection was twofold. The participant was supplied with visual diary materials at 2 months post-hospital discharge and depicted his story in words and pictures for a 3-month period, after which he was interviewed. The interview enabled the participant and researcher to interpret the visual diary and create a biographical account of his ICU stay and recovery journey.

FINDINGS

The analysis of one participant's visual diary yielded a wealth of information about his recovery trajectory articulated through the images he chose to symbolize his story. The participant confirmed feelings of persecution whilst in ICU and was unprepared for the physical and psychological disability which ensued following his discharge from hospital. However, his story was one of hope for the future and a determination that good would come out of his experience. He considered using the visual diary enhanced his recovery.

CONCLUSIONS

The participant perceived that visual diarizing enhanced his recovery trajectory by enabling him to recreate his story using visual imagery in a prospective diary.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

Prospective visual diarizing with ICU survivors may have potential as an aid to recovery.

Rehabilitation activities, out-patient visits and employment in patients and partners the first year after ICU: a descriptive study

OBJECTIVES

To describe the influence of critical illness on patients and their partners in relation to rehabilitation, healthcare consumption and employment during the first year after Intensive Care Unit discharge.

DESIGN

Longitudinal, observational and descriptive.

SETTING

Five Danish Intensive Care Units.

METHODS

Data were collected from hospital charts, population registers and interviews with 18 patients and their partners at 3 and 12 months after intensive care discharge. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed.

RESULTS

Post-discharge inpatient rehabilitation was median (range) 52 (15-174) days (n=10). Community-based training was 12 (3-34) weeks (n=15). Neuropsychological rehabilitation following brain damage was 13-20 weeks (n=3). Number of out-patient visits 1 year before and 1 year after were mean 3 versus 8, and General Practitioner visits were 12 versus 18. Three patients resumed work at pre-hospitalisation employment rates after 12 months. After the patients' stay in intensive care, partners' mean full-time sick leave was 17 (range 0-124) days and 21 (range 0-106) days part time. Partners often had long commutes.

CONCLUSION

Most patients had comprehensive recovery needs requiring months of rehabilitation. Some partners needed extensive sick leave. The study reveals the human cost of critical illness and intensive care for patients and partners in the Danish welfare system.

NICE CG83 - rehabilitation after critical illness: implementation across a network

BACKGROUND

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) Clinical Guideline (CG) 83: Rehabilitation after Critical Illness was published to focus attention on a group of patients who can potentially endure a multitude of physical and non-physical complications following a serious illness. Historically the sequelae of critical illness have not been adequately assessed or managed despite growing knowledge in this area of health care.

AIM

To share the lessons learned during the ongoing implementation of NICE CG83 across five hospitals within one critical care network in a single county.

DESIGN

The critical care network director appointed a passionate and experienced champion to examine the current position within each hospital, make recommendations and provide expert knowledge and practical assistance to improve the rehabilitation of patients in accordance with the NICE guideline. The 'Quick wins' were successfully addressed to encourage the implementation process whilst allowing time for new services and processes to be developed.

RESULTS

Success was achieved by addressing the patient, relative and inter-professional communication issues as a network. All hospitals introduced discharge booklets and improved their discharge information and then chose different strategies to address the recommendations of the guideline in the most effective way possible. Strategies such as early intervention physiotherapy, the assessment and management of delirium, follow-up clinics and outpatient rehabilitation classes were among those implemented.

CONCLUSION

This paper outlines the processes developed, the difficulties encountered and showcases the valuable work that has been achieved.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

Increasingly, hospitals have an obligation to comply with NICE guidelines for the benefit of patients. Rehabilitation following critical illness is important for patients to regain their former or best possible quality of life in a timely manner.

Comparison of physician prediction with 2 prognostic scoring systems in predicting 2-year mortality after intensive care admission: a linked-data cohort study

PURPOSE

Patients who survive an episode of critical illness continue to experience significant mortality after hospital discharge. This study assessed the accuracy of physician prediction of 2-year mortality and compared it with 2 objective prognostic models.

METHODS

Sensitivity (probability of a prediction of death in patients who died within 2 years) and specificity (probability of a prediction of survival in patients who survived at least 2 years) of physicians' 2-year prediction were compared with those from 2 objective prognostic models, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II and Predicted Risk Existing Disease Intensive Care Therapy (PREDICT).

RESULTS

Physician prediction of 2-year mortality was available for 2497 (94.8%) intensive care unit admissions. Specificity was high (85.2%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 83.7-86.4), but sensitivity (65.0%; 95% CI, 61.1-68.8) and positive predictive value (57.4%; 95% CI, 53.6-61.2) were relatively low, suggesting overpessimistic prediction of 2-year mortality. Age, Charlson comorbidity index, and APACHE score were independent risk factors for an inaccurate physician prediction. The diagnostic odds ratio for the physician predictions was at least comparable with the APACHE and PREDICT models, which both had very good discrimination of mortality at 2-year follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Physicians tended to overpredict the risk of 2-year mortality of critically ill patients, but accuracy was comparable with 2 objective prognostic models.

Long-term consequences of an intensive care unit stay in older critically ill patients: design of a longitudinal study

BACKGROUND

Modern methods in intensive care medicine often enable the survival of older critically ill patients. The short-term outcomes for patients treated in intensive care units (ICUs), such as survival to hospital discharge, are well documented. However, relatively little is known about subsequent long-term outcomes. Pain, anxiety and agitation are important stress factors for many critically ill patients. There are very few studies concerned with pain, anxiety and agitation and the consequences in older critically ill patients. The overall aim of this study is to identify how an ICU stay influences an older person's experiences later in life. More specific, this study has the following objectives: (1) to explore the relationship between pain, anxiety and agitation during ICU stays and experiences of the same symptoms in later life; and (2) to explore the associations between pain, anxiety and agitation experienced during ICU stays and their effect on subsequent health-related quality of life, use of the health care system (readmissions, doctor visits, rehabilitation, medication use), living situation, and survival after discharge and at 6 and 12 months of follow-up.

METHODS/DESIGN

A prospective, longitudinal study will be used for this study. A total of 150 older critically ill patients in the ICU will participate (ICU group). Pain, anxiety, agitation, morbidity, mortality, use of the health care system, and health-related quality of life will be measured at 3 intervals after a baseline assessment. Baseline measurements will be taken 48 hours after ICU admission and one week thereafter. Follow-up measurements will take place 6 months and 12 months after discharge from the ICU. To be able to interpret trends in scores on outcome variables in the ICU group, a comparison group of 150 participants, matched by age and gender, recruited from the Swiss population, will be interviewed at the same intervals as the ICU group.

DISCUSSION

Little research has focused on long term consequences after ICU admission in older critically ill patients. The present study is specifically focussing on long term consequences of stress factors experienced during ICU admission.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ISRCTN52754370.

Challenges and possible solutions for long-term follow-up of patients surviving critical illness

INTRODUCTION

Surviving critical illness can be life-changing and present new healthcare challenges for patients after discharge from hospital. Optimisation of recovery, rather than mere survival, is an important goal of intensive care. Observational studies have identified decreased quality of life and increased healthcare needs for survivors but loss to follow-up can be high with possible selection bias. Patients in need of support may therefore not be included in study results or allocated appropriate follow up support.

AIM

To examine the frequency and reasons patients admitted to general ICUs who survive critical illness are excluded from study participation or lost to follow-up and consider the possible implications and solutions.

METHOD

The literature review included searches of the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CINAHL databases. Studies (2006-2010) were included if they described follow-up of survivors from general ICUs.

RESULTS

Ten studies were reviewed. Of the 3269 eligible patients, 14% died after hospital discharge, 27% declined, and 22% were lost to follow-up. Reasons for loss to follow-up included no response, inability to contact the patient, too ill or admitted to another facility.

CONCLUSION

The most appropriate method of care follow-up has yet to be established but is likely to involve an eclectic model that tailors service provision to support individual patient needs. Identifying methods to minimise loss to follow-up may enhance interpretation of patients' recovery, lead to improvements in clinical practice and inform healthcare service decisions and policy.