Intensive & critical care nursing : the official journal of the British Association of Critical Care Nurses
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Intensive Crit Care Nurs · Apr 2000
ReviewHealth-related quality of life of ICU survivors: review of the literature.
The importance of health-related quality of life (HRQL) as a relevant outcome measure for patients requiring intensive care unit (ICU) management has only recently been recognized. A better understanding of how this expensive service affects the health and well-being of its survivors will allow nurses and other health care professionals to plan for and provide appropriate follow-up care. This paper contains a review of the theoretical basis for quality-of-life measures, discussion of some of the methodological issues, and examination of the findings from recent studies of the quality of life of ICU patients. ⋯ Despite this apparent poorer state of health, participants often claimed to be satisfied with their HRQL. Methodological weaknesses were evident in the studies reviewed, Challenges in terms of recruitment and retention of subjects, instrumentation and data collection became evident from this review. Continued research in this area is recommended and should address the weaknesses identified.
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Intensive Crit Care Nurs · Apr 2000
Review Case ReportsOptimizing oxygen delivery: haemodynamic workshop. Part 3.
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Intensive Crit Care Nurs · Apr 2000
Carers' opinions and emotional responses following cardiac surgery: cardiac rehabilitation implications for critical care nurses.
The recent joint position statement made by the RCN Critical Care and Rehabilitation Nursing Forums highlights the need for rehabilitation to commence early. This paper reports the findings of a descriptive survey of 59 carers of cardiac surgery patients and presents implications for cardiac rehabilitation. Data were obtained by postal questionnaire during early recovery (one week following discharge) and six weeks later. ⋯ The findings suggest that cardiac rehabilitation needs to be aimed at carers as well as patients. Investment in targeted carer support could facilitate patient recovery and rehabilitation. Strategies aimed at the carer need to begin early and commence during the acute stage of the patients' recovery.