An exploratory study of patients' perceptions, memories and experiences ofan intensive care unit

In the research reported, 298 patients were asked to describe their memorie s of the Royal Melbourne Hospital's intensive care unit (ICU), The data wer e collected by either self-reported questionnaires or structured interviews and examined from a bio-psycho-social perspective using both qualitative a nd quantitative methods. These recollections demonstrate that the close sur veillance by both technological support and health care practitioners provi de many patients and their families with a feeling of safety. Patients' mem ories of ICU also highlighted the presence of power relations which are inh erent in clinical practice. This paper provides examples of actions and rem arks within ICU that were not only remembered by patients and their familie s but also continued to effect patients 6 months after their discharge, The data in this research indicate that some of the psychological problems exp erienced after discharge may have been prevented by improved communication between staff and patients in ICU. This study also demonstrated the importa nce of providing feedback to the nurses working in ICU. This feedback raise d awareness of patients' perceptions of both ICU itself and the behaviour o f the staff. It also reminded staff that some patients remember everything about their admission of ICU, The data indicate that while patients found t he presence of good communication in ICU both therapeutic and reassuring, t hey found the lack of good communication distressing. Poor communication no t only caused anxiety while the patient was in ICU but also contributed to less than optimal recoveries after discharge. Finally, it will be argued th at the provision of information from nurses not only diminished feelings of anxiety but also empowered patients to become involved in decisions about their care.