Reduced quality of life in ICU survivors - the story behind the numbers: A mixed methods study
Publication year
2021Source
Journal of Critical Care, 65, (2021), pp. 36-41ISSN
Publication type
Article / Letter to editor

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Organization
Intensive Care
IQ Healthcare
Emergency Medicine
Journal title
Journal of Critical Care
Volume
vol. 65
Page start
p. 36
Page end
p. 41
Subject
Radboudumc 18: Healthcare improvement science RIHS: Radboud Institute for Health Sciences; Radboudumc 4: lnfectious Diseases and Global Health RIHS: Radboud Institute for Health SciencesAbstract
PURPOSE: To gain insight into the daily functioning of ICU survivors who reported a reduced quality of life (QoL) one year after ICU admission. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A two-phase mixed method study design. QoL was assessed using the SF-36 questionnaire before admission and after one year (Phase 1). Participants reporting a reduced QoL were invited for an in-depth interview (Phase 2). Interview data were coded thematically using the PROMIS framework. RESULTS: Of the 797 participants, 173 (22%) reported a reduced QoL, of which 19 purposively selected patients were interviewed. In line with their questionnaire scores, most participants described their QoL as reduced. They suffered from physical, mental and/or cognitive problems, impacting their daily life, restricting hobbies, work, and social activities. A new balance in life, including relationships, had to be found. Some interviewees experienced no changes in their QoL; they were grateful for being alive, set new life priorities, and were able to accept their life with its limitations. CONCLUSIONS: Reduction in QoL is due to physical, mental, and cognitive health problems, restricting participants what they want to do. However, QoL was not only affected by the critical illness, but also by factors including independency, comorbidity, and life events. Registration: NCT03246334 (clinical trials.gov).
This item appears in the following Collection(s)
- Academic publications [227864]
- Electronic publications [107344]
- Faculty of Medical Sciences [86218]
- Open Access publications [76463]
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