Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Investigate the challenges experienced by survivors of critical illness and their caregivers across the transitions of care from intensive care to community, and the potential problem-solving strategies used to navigate these challenges. DESIGN: Qualitative design - data generation via interviews and data analysis via the framework analysis method. SETTING: Patients and caregivers from three continents, identified through the Society of Critical Care Medicine's THRIVE international collaborative sites (follow-up clinics and peer support groups). SUBJECTS: Patients and caregivers following critical illness. INTERVENTIONS: Nil MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: From 86 interviews (66 patients, 20 caregivers), we identified the following major themes: 1) Challenges for patients - interacting with the health system and gaps in care; managing others' expectations of illness and recovery. 2) Challenges for caregivers - health system shortfalls and inadequate communication; lack of support for caregivers. 3) Patient and caregiver-driven problem solving across the transitions of care - personal attributes, resources, and initiative; receiving support and helping others; and acceptance. CONCLUSIONS: Survivors and caregivers experienced a range of challenges across the transitions of care. There were distinct and contrasting themes related to the caregiver experience. Survivors and caregivers used comparable problem-solving strategies to navigate the challenges encountered across the transitions of care.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1923-1931 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Critical care medicine |
Volume | 49 |
Issue number | 11 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Nov 1 2021 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- critical care
- recovery
- transitions of care
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine