“We know better and better how we can provide appropriate support to the loved ones of ICU patients.”

Zwolle – PICS and PICS-F are abbreviations for diseases that require less and less explanation. Something Family Guidance IC nurse Hadoe Kikibus is happy about. “Fortunately, awareness of post-Intensive Care Syndrome and the post-Intensive Care Syndrome family is growing. But it certainly could be better.”

“Post-intensive care syndrome is a collective name for a large number of physical, cognitive, and psychological complaints that a patient can experience after a prolonged ICU admission,” Hadaway says. “But what is less known is that family members often experience complaints after their loved one is admitted to the ICU.”

“Research shows that 30% of a patient's loved ones suffer from psychological complaints such as anxiety, depression and even the risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. Relatives may suffer from this for up to six months or more after their loved one is admitted to the intensive care unit. Failure to identify PICS-F in a timely manner can lead to all kinds of escalating complaints; people can no longer do their work properly or are no longer able to perform their duties as informal caregivers. Therefore, preventing PICS-F through good care is important very important.

Attention, recognition and information

“Fortunately, thanks to research and our own experiences, we know better how we can guide our loved ones in a way that enables us to help prevent PICS-F as much as possible. This guidance begins immediately when someone is admitted to the ICU. We will immediately accommodate the family that we come to.” With us in one of the two family rooms in the ICU. There we tell them about the practical procedures in the ICU and answer as many questions as possible about the health status of their loved ones. We know from research that providing good, compassionate information helps reduce stress and uncertainty between loved ones, and thus Helps prevent PICS-F.

“We also look very carefully at what our loved ones need,” says Hadaway. “No ICU admission and no family is the same. Relationships between family members can also cause stress. For example, when determining who will serve as the contact for an ICU patient. We also try to guide our loved ones when making these types of decisions, so that there is as little stress as possible. Person-to-person contact and attention are the key words.

Writing memos

In addition to providing information and guidance during the entire ICU admission period – which can last a few days, weeks or in some cases months – family guidance nurses also recommend that relatives keep a post-ICU diary. “Post-IC diaries are digital diaries, and relatives can also use paper diaries instead,” says Hadaway. “After receiving a consent form containing a unique code, relatives can install the diary application. The added value of this diary is that multiple people, including the ICU nurse, can write in the diary and photos of the patient can be added. In addition, the information can be read About PICS and PICS-F, which is very important to recognize complaints.

The puzzle pieces fall into place

Writing down what happens day to day can help you process all the intense emotions that come with being admitted to the ICU. For loved ones, but also then for the patient. Hadaway: “After being admitted to the ICU, patients often remember almost nothing about what happened. While hospitalized, they remained in a state of artificial sleep, but in the meantime they may have had to undergo radical and painful procedures. The result may be nightmares, fragments of memories and fear.” “.

“When reading a diary, the pieces of the puzzle often fall into place; suddenly someone understands where certain feelings are coming from. This helps with processing. Conversely, the patient can also read how difficult and stressful the ICU period was for their loved ones. This It helps to understand each other and talk about it together.This also helps in handling ICU admission.

Close family

Furthermore, research also shows that the opportunity to be as a family in the ICU and participate in care are important pillars of preventing PICS and PICS-F complaints. Hadaway: “This works both ways. It helps relatives better prepare for their role as informal caregivers, and at the same time the patient feels supported and trusted by the presence of loved ones.”

Aftercare and return day

After being admitted to the ICU for two or more days, patients and their loved ones also receive aftercare from the IC's outpatient aftercare clinic. If they feel the need, they can visit the aftercare outpatient clinic to have a conversation with the ICU nurses and the rehabilitation doctor about their possible complaints after admission to the ICU. The Aftercare Outpatient Clinic also organizes a return day every year for ICU patients and their families. Read the article here About the return day last November.