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Purpose The immediate impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) visiting restrictions for family members has been well-documented. However, the longer-term trajectory, including mechanisms for support, is less well-known. To address this knowledge gap, we aimed to explore the post-hospital recovery trajectory of family members of patients hospitalised with a critical care COVID-19 admission. We also sought to understand any differences across international contexts. Methods We undertook semi-structured interviews with family members of patients who had survived a COVID-19 critical care admission. Family members were recruited from Spain and the United Kingdom (UK) and telephone interviews were undertaken. Interviews were analysed using a thematic content analysis. Results Across the international sites, 19 family members were interviewed. Four themes were identified: changing relationships and carer burden; family health and trauma; social support and networks and differences in lived experience. We found differences in the social support and networks theme across international contexts, with Spanish participants more frequently discussing religion as a form of support. Conclusions This international qualitative investigation has demonstrated the challenges which family members of patients hospitalised with a critical care COVID-19 admission experience following hospital discharge. Specific support mechanisms which could include peer support networks, should be implemented for family members to ensure ongoing needs are met., Author(s): Joanne McPeake [sup.1], Pedro Castro [sup.2], Nancy Kentish-Barnes [sup.3], Cecilia Cuzco [sup.2] [sup.4], Elie Azoulay [sup.3], Pamela MacTavish [sup.5], Tara Quasim [sup.5] [sup.6], Kathryn Puxty [sup.5] [sup.6] Author Affiliations: [...]

Background: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients can experience emotional distress and post‐traumatic stress disorder when they leave the ICU, also referred to as post‐intensive care syndrome. A deeper understanding of what patients go through and what they need while they are transitioning from the ICU to the general ward may provide input on how to strengthen patient‐centred care and, ultimately, contribute to a positive experience. Aim: To describe the patients' experience while transitioning from the ICU to a general ward. Design: A descriptive qualitative study. Method: Data were gathered through in‐depth interviews and analysed using a qualitative content analysis. The qualitative study was reported in accordance with the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research guidelines. Findings: Forty‐eight interviews were conducted. Impact on emotional well‐being emerged as a main theme, comprising four categories with six subcategories. Conclusion: Transition from the ICU can be a shock for the patient, leading to the emergence of a need for information, and an impact on emotional well‐being that has to be planned for carefully and addressed prior to, during, and following transition from the ICU to the general ward. Relevance to clinical practice: It is essential that nurses understand patients' experiences during transfer, identifying needs and concerns to be able to develop and implement new practices such as ICU Liaison Nurse or Nurse Outreach for the follow‐up of these patients, the inclusion of a consultant mental health nurse, and the application of patient empowerment during ICU discharge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: (a) To understand patients' lived experience at intensive care unit (ICU) discharge and (b) to evaluate the impact of a nursing empowerment intervention (NEI) on patients' anxiety and depression levels at ICU discharge. Design: A mixed‐methods approach will be applied. Methods: In the qualitative phase, the hermeneutic phenomenological method will be used. Participants will be patients from three university hospitals who will be selected by purposive sampling. Data will be gathered through in‐depth interviews and analysed using content analysis. The qualitative data obtained will be employed to develop the nursing intervention. Subsequently, a multicenter, parallel‐group, experimental pre‐test/post‐test design with a control group will be used to measure the effectiveness of the nursing empowerment intervention in the quantitative phase by means of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Simple random probabilistic sampling will include 172 patients in this phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]