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ICU Diaries

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Improving Critical Care Survivorship

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Abstract

Survivors of critical illness and treatment in the intensive care unit (ICU) often experience physical or psychological symptoms as part of the post-intensive care syndrome (PICS). Both patients and their families risk symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety, or depression. ICU diaries are used to support the process of psychological recovery. They complement the medical record by addressing the patient directly and describing in layman’s terms what happened in the ICU. The diaries are usually written by nurses but may also be coauthored by other staff, family, or friends, depending on local practice. ICU diaries describe admission to the unit and patient progress through stages of crisis and stabilization in the ICU. Qualitative evaluation of ICU diaries has suggested improvement of illness communication and psychological well-being in patients and families. Quantitative evaluation is inconclusive with some evidence of effect on psychological sequelae but lacking discussion of potential harms.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Copenhagen, Health & Medical Sciences, Rigshospitalet, Department of Intensive Care, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Ingrid Egerod

  2. Nursing Research, Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital of Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany

    Peter Nydahl

Authors
  1. Ingrid Egerod
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  2. Peter Nydahl
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ingrid Egerod .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiotherapy, Western Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

    Kimberley J. Haines

  2. Glasgow Royal Infirmary, NHS Greater, Glasgow and Clyde, Glasgow, UK

    Joanne McPeake

  3. Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA

    Carla M. Sevin

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Egerod, I., Nydahl, P. (2021). ICU Diaries. In: Haines, K.J., McPeake, J., Sevin, C.M. (eds) Improving Critical Care Survivorship. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-68680-2_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-68680-2_6

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-68679-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-68680-2

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