Narrative Diaries in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit for the Reduction of Post Intensive Care Syndrome: A Thematic Analysis - Abstract
Introduction: The Coronary Intensive Care Unit (UTIC) diary is a shared bedside tool written by healthcare professionals and patients’ family members. There is little evidence on its feasibility and how it supports the families of ICU patients. Patients who have been seriously ill experience significant physical and psychological disorders after discharge. Currently, there is no evidence on how the diary of intensive care is used and what we can learn from it.
Materials and methods: Qualitative study of CCU diaries conducted with a narrative research approach. Patients admitted for acute heart failure were enrolled in an eight-bed Italian intensive care unit in a secondary hospital. During the ICU hospitalization of patients, relatives and health professionals were invited to report events, thoughts, messages for patients in the patient’s diary. A thematic analysis of the contents of the ICU diaries was carried out.
Results: Between September and December 2022, 15 ICU diaries were completed, mainly from patients and family members (n=65) and healthcare professionals (n=28). Three main themes emerged: ‘’Social, psychological and spiritual support’’, ‘’Emotions, feelings and anguish of relatives’’ and ‘’Life in UTIC’’. The diaries offer information about relatives’ emotions, social support, clinical activities and interactions with healthcare professionals, and progression to recovery.
Conclusions: Intensive care diaries are invaluable in facilitating patient-centered care by providing a space for written reporting of patient admission by relatives and caregivers.