Pilot Study of a Multidisciplinary Intervention in ICU Survivors At Risk for Psychological or Physical Morbidity

Pilot study of the feasibility and utility of an early, in-hospital multidisciplinary intervention in ICU survivors at risk for psychological and physical problems post-ICU stay

60 adult patients at two hospitals in Region Stockholm (Karolinska University Hospital and Södersjukhuset) with an ICU stay ≥12 hours with increased risk for psychological/physical sequelae will be invited to participate. Intervention: Early re-assessment and multidisciplinary follow-up, led by an ICU follow-up staff (Case Manager, CM). The CM will support the patient and coordinate the rehabilitation efforts from ICU discharge to primary care with a secondary, deepened assessment of symptoms in the ward, recapitulation and information about the time spent in the ICU, followed by a multidisciplinary discussion with concerned specialists and the set-up of an individual rehabilitation plan communicated to the patient and the informal caregivers. The CM will keep track of the patient during hospital stay and ensure that there is a plan for further primary care rehabilitation after hospital discharge. The CM will contact the patient weekly to follow up on wellbeing and planned primary care activities until 12 weeks. At twelve weeks, patients will be assessed with regards to psychological symptoms (HADS, PTSS-14) and physical disability (BI). Outcome: The primary outcome is the feasibility of the intervention. Patients and informal caregivers will be invited to participate in semi-structured interviews that will deepen the knowledge about their views upon the intervention, needs and suggested measures to improve the patients' recovery. Resource utilisation will be documented by the CM and feedback collected from involved ICU staff and hospital clinicians. Secondary outcomes are patients' level of psychological and physical problems and health-related quality of life. The results from the pilot study will inform a subsequent randomized controlled trial of an early follow-up intervention.