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Use and practice of patient diaries in Swedish intensive care units: a national survey.

Akerman, Eva ; Granberg Axèll, Anetth LU ; Ersson, Anders LU ; Fridlund, Bengt LU and Bergbom, Ingegerd (2010) In Nursing in critical care 15(1). p.26-33
Abstract
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To describe and compare the extent and application of patients' diaries in Sweden. BACKGROUND: Since 1991, patient diaries have been used in intensive care unit (ICU) follow-up in Sweden. There is paucity of relevant data evaluating the effect of this tool and also on what premises patients are enrolled. Likewise, data are sparse on the diaries' design, content structure and the use of photographs. DESIGN: Descriptive explorative design by a semi-structured telephone interview. METHODS: The interview results were analysed with descriptive statistics and differences between the ICU levels were explored by chi(2) analysis. Qualitative manifest content analysis was performed to explore the purpose of diary writing.... (More)
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To describe and compare the extent and application of patients' diaries in Sweden. BACKGROUND: Since 1991, patient diaries have been used in intensive care unit (ICU) follow-up in Sweden. There is paucity of relevant data evaluating the effect of this tool and also on what premises patients are enrolled. Likewise, data are sparse on the diaries' design, content structure and the use of photographs. DESIGN: Descriptive explorative design by a semi-structured telephone interview. METHODS: The interview results were analysed with descriptive statistics and differences between the ICU levels were explored by chi(2) analysis. Qualitative manifest content analysis was performed to explore the purpose of diary writing. RESULTS: Of all ICUs (n = 85), 99% responded and 75% used diaries. The source of inspiration was collegial rather than from scientific data. The main reason for keeping a diary was to help the patient to recapitulate the ICU stay. Discrepancies between the different levels of ICUs were detected in patient selection, dedicated staff for follow-up and the use of photographs. Comparison between the chi(2) analysis and the content analysis outcome displayed incongruence between the set unit-goals and the activities for achievement but did not explain the procedural differences detected. CONCLUSION: The uses of diaries in post ICU follow up were found to be common in Sweden. A majority used defined goals and content structure. However, there were differences in practice and patient recruitment among the levels of ICUs. These discrepancies seemed not to be based on evidence-based data nor on ongoing research or evaluation but merely on professional judgement. As ICU follow-up is resource intense and time consuming, it is paramount that solid criteria for patient selection and guidelines for the structure and use of diaries in post-ICU follow-up are defined. (Less)
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author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Nursing in critical care
volume
15
issue
1
pages
26 - 33
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • wos:000293065400010
  • pmid:20070812
  • scopus:77950511600
  • pmid:20070812
ISSN
1478-5153
DOI
10.1111/j.1478-5153.2009.00364.x
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015. The record was previously connected to the following departments: Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care (Mö) (013241110), Division of Nursing (Closed 2012) (013065000)
id
d6af2a2f-27e2-4a37-b154-99d078abde14 (old id 1541120)
alternative location
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20070812?dopt=Abstract
date added to LUP
2016-04-04 08:01:09
date last changed
2022-04-15 19:47:09
@article{d6af2a2f-27e2-4a37-b154-99d078abde14,
  abstract     = {{AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To describe and compare the extent and application of patients' diaries in Sweden. BACKGROUND: Since 1991, patient diaries have been used in intensive care unit (ICU) follow-up in Sweden. There is paucity of relevant data evaluating the effect of this tool and also on what premises patients are enrolled. Likewise, data are sparse on the diaries' design, content structure and the use of photographs. DESIGN: Descriptive explorative design by a semi-structured telephone interview. METHODS: The interview results were analysed with descriptive statistics and differences between the ICU levels were explored by chi(2) analysis. Qualitative manifest content analysis was performed to explore the purpose of diary writing. RESULTS: Of all ICUs (n = 85), 99% responded and 75% used diaries. The source of inspiration was collegial rather than from scientific data. The main reason for keeping a diary was to help the patient to recapitulate the ICU stay. Discrepancies between the different levels of ICUs were detected in patient selection, dedicated staff for follow-up and the use of photographs. Comparison between the chi(2) analysis and the content analysis outcome displayed incongruence between the set unit-goals and the activities for achievement but did not explain the procedural differences detected. CONCLUSION: The uses of diaries in post ICU follow up were found to be common in Sweden. A majority used defined goals and content structure. However, there were differences in practice and patient recruitment among the levels of ICUs. These discrepancies seemed not to be based on evidence-based data nor on ongoing research or evaluation but merely on professional judgement. As ICU follow-up is resource intense and time consuming, it is paramount that solid criteria for patient selection and guidelines for the structure and use of diaries in post-ICU follow-up are defined.}},
  author       = {{Akerman, Eva and Granberg Axèll, Anetth and Ersson, Anders and Fridlund, Bengt and Bergbom, Ingegerd}},
  issn         = {{1478-5153}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{26--33}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{Nursing in critical care}},
  title        = {{Use and practice of patient diaries in Swedish intensive care units: a national survey.}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1478-5153.2009.00364.x}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/j.1478-5153.2009.00364.x}},
  volume       = {{15}},
  year         = {{2010}},
}