Faculty Collaboration Database

"Not being able to talk was horrid": A descriptive, correlational study of communication during mechanical ventilation. Intensive Crit Care Nurs 2015 Jun;31(3):179-86

Date

01/13/2015

Pubmed ID

25579081

Pubmed Central ID

PMC4466051

DOI

10.1016/j.iccn.2014.10.007

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-84930574626 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   69 Citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to describe the patient experience of communication during mechanical ventilation.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY: This descriptive study is a secondary analysis of data collected to study the relationship between sedation and the MV patients' recall of the ICU. Interviews, conducted after extubation, included the Intensive Care Experience Questionnaire. Data were analysed with Spearman correlation coefficients (rs) and content analysis.

SETTING: Participants were recruited from a medical-surgical intensive care unit in the Midwest United States.

RESULTS: Participants (n = 31) with a mean age of 65 ± 11.9 were on the ventilator a median of 5 days. Inability to communicate needs was associated with helplessness (rs = .43). While perceived lack of information received was associated with not feeling in control (rs = 41) and helplessness (rs = 41). Ineffective communication impacted negatively on satisfaction with care. Participants expressed frustration with failed communication and a lack of information received. They believed receipt of information helped them cope and desired a better system of communication during mechanical ventilation.

CONCLUSION: Communication effectiveness impacts patients' sense of safety and well-being during mechanical ventilation. Greater emphasis needs to be placed on the development and integration of communication strategies into critical care nursing practice.

Author List

Guttormson JL, Bremer KL, Jones RM

Author

Jill Guttormson BSN,MS,PhD Assistant Professor in the College of Nursing department at Marquette University

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Critical Illness
Female
Frustration
Humans
Intensive Care Units
Interviews as Topic
Male
Middle Aged
Nurse's Role
Nurse-Patient Relations
Respiration, Artificial
Wisconsin