Gisela Vogel1, Eva Joelsson-Alm2, Ulla Forinder3, Christer Svensen4, Anna Sandgren5. 1. Department of Clinical Science and Education, Karolinska Institutet, Unit of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Södersjukhuset, Sjukhusbacken 10, 118 83 Stockholm, Sweden. Electronic address: gisela.vogel@ki.se. 2. Department of Clinical Science and Education, Karolinska Institutet, Unit of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Södersjukhuset, Sjukhusbacken 10, 118 83 Stockholm, Sweden. Electronic address: eva.joelsson-alm@ki.se. 3. Faculty of Health and Occupational Studies, University of Gävle, Kungsbäcksvägen 47, 801 76 Gävle, Sweden. Electronic address: ulla.forinder@hig.se. 4. Department of Clinical Science and Education, Karolinska Institutet, Unit of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Södersjukhuset, Sjukhusbacken 10, 118 83 Stockholm, Sweden. Electronic address: christer.svensen@ki.se. 5. Center for Collaborative Palliative Care, Department of Health and Caring Sciences, Linnaeus University, Växjö, Universitetsplatsen 1, 352 52 Växjö, Sweden. Electronic address: anna.sandgren@lnu.se.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The experience of critical illness among patients is both complex and multifaceted. It can make patients vulnerable to long-term consequences such as impairment in cognition, mental health and physical functional ability which affects health related quality of life. This study aims to explore patients' patterns of behaviour during the process from becoming critical ill to recovery at home. DESIGN: We used a classic grounded theory methodology to explore the main concern for intensive care patients. Thirteen participants were interviewed and seven different participants were observed. SETTING: Three general intensive care units in Sweden, consisting of a university hospital, a county hospital and a district hospital. FINDINGS: The theory Stabilizing life explains how patients' main concern, being out of control, can be resolved. This theory involves two processes, recapturing life and recoding life, and one underlying strategy, emotional balancing that is used during the whole process. CONCLUSION: The process from becoming critically ill until recovery home is perceived as a constant fight in actions and mind to achieve control and stabilize life. This theory can form the basis for further qualitative and quantitative research about interventions that promotes wellbeing during the whole process.
OBJECTIVES: The experience of critical illness among patients is both complex and multifaceted. It can make patients vulnerable to long-term consequences such as impairment in cognition, mental health and physical functional ability which affects health related quality of life. This study aims to explore patients' patterns of behaviour during the process from becoming critical ill to recovery at home. DESIGN: We used a classic grounded theory methodology to explore the main concern for intensive care patients. Thirteen participants were interviewed and seven different participants were observed. SETTING: Three general intensive care units in Sweden, consisting of a university hospital, a county hospital and a district hospital. FINDINGS: The theory Stabilizing life explains how patients' main concern, being out of control, can be resolved. This theory involves two processes, recapturing life and recoding life, and one underlying strategy, emotional balancing that is used during the whole process. CONCLUSION: The process from becoming critically ill until recovery home is perceived as a constant fight in actions and mind to achieve control and stabilize life. This theory can form the basis for further qualitative and quantitative research about interventions that promotes wellbeing during the whole process.
Authors: Roel van Oorsouw; Emily Klooster; Niek Koenders; Philip J Van Der Wees; Mark Van Den Boogaard; Anke J M Oerlemans Journal: J Adv Nurs Date: 2022-06-28 Impact factor: 3.057