Effects of a visit prior to hospital admission on anxiety, depression and satisfaction of patients in an intensive care unit

Abstract

Objectives: To assess the effects of a vists prior to hospital admission on anxiety, depression and satisfaction of patients admitted electively to an intensive care unit (ICU). Design: A randomised clinical trial [NCT03605407]. Setting: A sample of 38 patients was recruited who were to be electively admiited to ICU divided into experimental (n = 19 patients receiving one visit prior to hospital ICU admission for surgery) and control (n = 19 patients not receiving a visit prior to hospital ICU admission for surgery) groups. Main outcome measurements: Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Impact of Event Scale- Revised (IES-R) were self-reported by patients before ICU admission, at 3-days and 90-days after ICU discharge. Critical Care Family Needs Inventory (CCFNI) and Family Satisfaction with Care in the Intensive Care Unit (FS-ICU) were used to measure the users’ satisfaction before ICU admission and 3-days after ICU discharge. Results: There were statistically significant differences between experimental and control groups for FSICU, but not for HADS, IES-R and CCFNI. Indeed, control group patients were more satisfied with regard to emotional support, ease of getting information, control feeling, concerns and questions expression ability and overall score for decision-making satisfaction. Conclusions: The visit prior to hospital admission did not seem to modify anxiety or depression, but may impair satisfaction of ICU patients.