The patient experience of a nurse-written ICU-diary intervention: A cross sectional survey

Background

A diary written for intensive care patients might help fill in memory gaps and promote psychological recovery. In Norway intensive care diaries are mainly authored by nurses and national recommendations ensure a systematic approach to the intervention. Studies describing the patient experience of nurse-written intensive care diaries are needed.

Objectives

The aim of this exploratory study is to investigate patientś experience of receiving and reading a nurse-written diary.

Design and setting

This is a cross-sectional multicentre survey among patients discharged from seven intensive care units in Norway.

Results

Among the 88 patients included, 90 % were satisfied with the diary handover process. As many as 88 % of the respondents agreed that the diary demonstrated good care, helped them realize how critically ill they had been and understand why recovery takes time (76 %), and made them grateful for surviving (74 %). One third of the respondents (30 %) reported that the diary saddened them, 6 % reported that the diary reminded them of a time in their lives they would rather forget, while 17 % reported that critical events were missing in the diary. However, nearly all patients were in favour of continuing the diary intervention (98 %).

Conclusion

Overall, the respondents were satisfied with the nurse-written diary, the handover as well as the content, and they recommended that the intervention should be sustained.

Implications for clinical practice

The handover of the diary should be tailored to meet the individual preferences of the patients in terms of timing and approach, since the diary intervention may not suit all patients. Improvements to the intervention could be a more complete narrative in the diary including both positive and critical events during the intensive care trajectory.