Respiratory care
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Breathing discomfort (dyspnea) during mechanical ventilation in the ICU may contribute to patient distress and complicate care. Assessment of nonverbal cues may allow caregivers to estimate patient breathing discomfort. This study assesses the accuracy of those caregiver estimates. ⋯ Significant breathing discomfort is prevalent in mechanically ventilated ICU patients and is underestimated by caregivers, regardless of profession. The increasing disparity in caregiver estimate as breathing discomfort rises may expose patients to levels of dyspnea that promote anxiety and fear. This study demonstrates the need for further development and standardization of methods to assess dyspnea in nonverbal patients.