• Salima Suleman, Jennifer M O'Brien, Cari McIlduff, Brittany Benson, Nicole Labine, Sahar Khan, Tiffanie Tse, Joann Kawchuk, Puneet Kapur, Candace Abramyk, Eileen Reimche, and Sabira Valiani.
• Speech Language Pathologist, Independent Research Consultant, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
• Can J Anaesth. 2023 Jun 1; 70 (6): 9951007995-1007.

PurposeCommunication is vital to facilitate patient and family-centred care (PFCC) and to build trusting relationships between intensive care unit (ICU) health care providers, the patient, and their loved ones in the ICU. The focus of this investigation was to identify, define, and refine key moments of communication, connection, and relationship building in the ICU through a lens of Equity, Diversity, Decolonization, and Inclusion (EDDI) to encourage meaningful communication and development of trusting relationships.MethodsWe conducted 13 journey mapping interviews with ICU health care providers, patients, and their loved ones as the first stage in a design thinking project. We used directed content analysis to identify intersections where principles of EDDI directly or indirectly impacted communication, relationships, and trust throughout the ICU journey. To serve diverse patients and their loved ones, accessibility, inclusivity, and cultural safety were foundational pillars of the design thinking project.ResultsThirteen ICU health care providers, patients, and their loved ones participated in journey mapping interviews. We defined and refined 16 communication moments and relationship milestones in the journey of a patient through the ICU (e.g., admission, crises, stabilization, discharge), and intersections where EDDI directly or indirectly impacted communication and connection during the ICU journey.ConclusionOur findings highlight that diverse intersectional identities impact communication moments and relationship milestones during an ICU journey. To fully embrace a paradigm of PFCC, consideration should be given to creating an affirming and safe space for patients and their loved ones in the ICU.© 2023. Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society.

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