Communication With Mechanically Ventilated Intensive Care Patients

Communication With Mechanically Ventilated Intensive Care Patients

The overarching aim of this multicenter study is to develop a multimodule training intervention (COMMEC-ICU) for nurses working in ICUs, to increase nurses skills and knowledge and then improve communication for mechanically ventilated ICU patients. The intervention will be implemented at the included ICUs and evaluated both on nurses in the ICU and patients. Patients with delirium will also be included.

The specific objectives of the research proposal are to:

1. Investigate ICU patients' perceptions of communication difficulties during mechanical ventilation, and evaluate the relationship between communication difficulties and symptom burden.

2. Describe ICU nurses' communication skills, communication techniques commonly used, and satisfaction with communication with patients.

   The results from objectives 1 and 2 are of relevance as such, but will also be used as a basis to develop the COMMEC-ICU and as a pre-intervention measure prior to implementation of the new program.

3. Further develop and implement COMMEC-ICU in the selected ICUs.

4. Evaluate the effect of COMMEC-ICU on a) ICU nurses after receiving the training program b) former ICU patients that have been treated in the ICUs with were the intervention have been implemented.

Inclusion Criteria patients:

• Patients over the age of 18
• First ICU admission during the hospital stay
• Cognitively competent at the time of consenting to participate
• Invasive mechanical ventilation via endotracheal tube or tracheostomy for over 48 hours or more calendar days
• Patients must have been reported awake and communicative or with a Richmond Agitation and Sedation scale over - 1.

Exclusion Criteria patients:

• Patients who cannot understand Norwegian
• Patients without an address
• Patients who have cognitive disabilities and are not able to consent or receive information about the study

Inclusion criteria nurses: having clinical experience from the ICU for more than a year.