Structured nurse-led follow-up for patients after discharge from the intensive care unit: Prospective quasi-experimental study.

AIMS

The aim of this study was to describe a structured 3-month nurse-led follow-up of patients after discharge from intensive care and measure its effects on health status.

BACKGROUND

Patients requiring intensive care stay frequently have lengthy and incomplete recovery suggesting need for additional support. The effects of intensive care nurse-led follow-up have not been sufficiently elucidated.

DESIGN

A prospective, quasi-experimental study of patients who received structured nurse-led follow-up from intensive care nurses after discharge from intensive care until 3 months afterwards. The control group received usual care.

METHODS

Of 574 patients assessed for eligibility, from November 2012 - May 2015, 168 were assigned to the experimental group (N = 73) and the control group (N = 75). Primary outcome was health status, measured with eight scales of Short Form-36v2, before the intensive care admission and at four time points until 12 months after intensive care. A mixed effect model tested differences between the groups over time. Criteria for Reporting Development and Evaluation of Complex Interventions 2 guideline, guided the reporting of the intervention.

RESULTS

The structured nurse-led follow-up did not improve patients' health status compared with usual care (mixed effect model, p = .078-.937).

CONCLUSION

The structured nurse-led follow-up did not reveal an effect on the intensive care patients studied. Further examination of intensive care nurse-led follow-up is needed, taking into account the heterogeneity of the patient population, variations in length of ward stay, patients' health care needs during the first week at home after discharge from general ward and health status before intensive care admission.