Development of a Mobile Application to Promote Family Caregiver Engagement in the Assessment and Management of Patient Symptoms During Mechanical Ventilation in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
Year: 2021
Type: conference-abstract
Abstract: Rationale: Critical care guidelines call for the liberal inclusion of family caregivers into bedside care, but few evidence-based strategies exist that engage them as active participants in the provision of care in the ICU. The purpose of this study was to obtain user feedback of a newly developed mobile application, ICU-CARE, that enables ICU family caregivers to assess patient symptoms and actively intervene with nonpharmacologic comfort measures. Methods: Qualitative and quantitative methods were used to explore user perceptions of ICU-CARE. A convenience sample of current ICU nurses and previous ICU family caregivers were recruited to participate in two 90-minute focus groups. Participants were asked to explore ICU-CARE and complete a checklist of tasks within the application. Then, they answered the measure of Education Material Acceptability (EMA), a 10-item instrument that evaluates clarity, accuracy, content, reading level, and technical quality. Item responses range from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). Descriptive statistics were used to analyze responses to the EMA. Thematic analysis was used to code transcripts and identify the overarching themes, specifically focusing on likes, dislikes, and ways the application could be improved. Results: 3 caregivers and 5 nurses participated. Study findings suggest the application was well-received by participants and acceptable for future use by ICU family caregivers. The results of the EMA showed overall acceptance by both caregivers and nurses, with a mean score of 44 (SD=9.7). In their qualitative responses, participants highlighted the ease in utility of the mobile resource, the expanse of information important to caregivers, and the appeal of the pictures, sounds, and descriptions throughout the mobile application. Conclusions: This study provided valuable insight into the perspectives of ICU nurses and previous ICU family caregivers on a mobile application that promotes family caregiver engagement in the provision of care in the ICU. The findings suggest a number of components of ICU-CARE are valuable and suggestions were offered to optimize the technology. ICU-CARE is being further evaluated as part of an ongoing randomized clinical trial.
Institution: University of Nebraska Medical Center
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W4237952166