User Experience of a Telemedicine Platform for the Follow-up of Post Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS)

Experience of Critically Ill Patients in the Use of a Telemedicine Platform for the Follow-up of Post Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS) After ICU Discharge

Survivors of critical illness may present with a set of physical, emotional and cognitive sequelae, known as Post Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS). These alterations can become chronic over time and significantly affect patients' quality of life. Therefore, follow-up and monitoring of critically ill patients after ICU discharge, for example through telemedicine, could be essential for the prevention, early detection and management of PICS.

Our main objective is to evaluate the suitability and user experience of a telemedicine platform from the perspective of critically ill patients. This study proposes the participation of ICU survivors in the design and improvement of a telemedicine platform for PICS follow-up through a qualitative approach. Participants will test the platform in person three months after discharge from the ICU and then undergo a semi-structured interview to assess their experience. The findings derived from this study may contribute to improve both the content and the format of the platform, optimizing resources and facilitating the management of post-ICU sequelae, which will have a positive impact on the patient's recovery process.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adult patients (≥18 years)
• Admitted to a medical/surgical ICU
• For respiratory failure, cardiogenic shock, or septic shock
• With an expected ICU stay of ≥48 hours
• Catalan and/or Spanish speakers
• Who are able to give informed consent by themselves

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of intellectual disability or other neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder
• History of neurological disorders, dementia or other neurodegenerative diseases, such as epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease or multiple sclerosis
• History of brain damage, such as traumatic brain injury or stroke
• History of severe psychiatric illness, such as psychotic, bipolar, depressive, obsessive-compulsive, post-traumatic or personality disorder
• Suspected or confirmed substance use disorder
• Suspected or confirmed communicable disease in an isolated patient
• Uncorrected hearing or visual impairment
• Enrolled in another trial that does not allow co-enrollment