Aust Crit Care
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End-of-life decision making in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), can be emotionally challenging and multifaceted. Doctors and nurses are sometimes placed in a precarious position where they are required to make decisions for patients who may be unable to participate in the decision-making process. There is an increasing frequency of the need for such decisions to be made in ICU, with studies reporting that most ICU deaths are heralded by a decision to withdraw or withhold life-sustaining treatment. ⋯ Further research is warranted to address the need for a more comprehensive, standardised approach to support clinicians (medical and nursing) in end-of-life decision making in the ICU.
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Multicenter Study Observational Study
An investigation of light and sound levels on intensive care units in China.
The intensive care units' (ICU) environment is considered clinically relevant sources of stress for patients. ⋯ High sound pressure levels are prevalent throughout 24h in the ICUs, especially in the SICU. Many of the readings exceeded international standards. Peak sound pressure levels were related primarily to staff activities and the alarm sounds of machines. ICU patients are exposed to high levels of artificial light continuously throughout the day and night.