• Paula L Cairns, Harleah G Buck, Kevin E Kip, Carmen S Rodriguez, Zhan Liang, and Cindy L Munro.
• Paula L. Cairns is an assistant professor, Kevin E. Kip is a distinguished professor, and Harleah G. Buck and Carmen S. Rodriguez are associate professors, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida. Zhan Liang is an assistant professor and Cindy L. Munro is a professor and dean, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida. pcairns@health.usf.edu.
• Am. J. Crit. Care. 2019 Nov 1; 28 (6): 471-476.

BackgroundPost-intensive care syndrome-family (PICS-F) refers to acute and chronic psychological effects of critical care on family members of patients in intensive care units (ICUs). Evidence suggests that increased distress during the ICU stay increases risk of PICS-F. Sensation Awareness Focused Training (SĀF-T) is a new, promising stress management intervention, but the feasibility of such training during the ICU stay for family caregivers who are acting as the surrogate decision-maker for patients who are undergoing mechanical ventilation is unknown.ObjectivesTo assess feasibility and acceptability of SĀF-T to inform a future larger randomized controlled trial.MethodsThis randomized controlled trial of SĀF-T (n = 5) versus a control (n = 5) group was conducted at a level 1 trauma center. Participants assigned to SĀF-T completed 1 session daily for 3 days. Measures included enrollment rate, data completion rate, acceptability of SĀF-T, and symptoms of PICS-F. Scales used included Perceived Stress, Hospital Anxiety and Depression, Impact of Event, and National Institutes of Health Toolbox Emotion Battery.ResultsMean age was 58 (SD, 12) years; 70% of participants were female. Predetermined feasibility criteria were met in enrollment rate (67%), outcome measures completion rate (> 90%), and SĀF-T acceptability (100% of doses completed during the ICU stay) without adverse events. Stress scores after SĀF-T were significantly lower than scores before SĀF-T (z = -3.5, P = .01).ConclusionsSĀF-T intervention during the ICU stay is feasible, acceptable, and may improve family caregivers' post-ICU outcomes. Larger clinical trial to assess the effectiveness of SĀF-T in preventing PICS-F seem warranted.©2019 American Association of Critical-Care Nurses.

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