Patients' experience of being in intensive care units

The aim of the study was to describe the Jordanian patients' experience during their stay in intensive care units (ICUs) and to explore factors that contribute to positive and negative experiences.

A descriptive, exploratory design was used. The study was conducted at 3 hospitals in Jordan. Patients were selected from surgical and medical ICUs within 72 hours after transfer to the floor. Data were collected through structured interviews using the Intensive Care Experience Questionnaire with 98 patients.

Data showed high level of awareness among patients to surrounding persons (82.2%) and relatives (90.3%). Although 58% of patients perceived pain as a problem during their stay, patients' perception of the care as good as it should be was generally high (82%). Male and female patients differed significantly in their frightening experiences (t=-2.559, P=.01).

Understanding patients' experiences in the ICU would increase nurses' awareness to patients' stressors. It would help policy makers in designing structural and process-related care activities in a manner that promotes positive patient experiences, which would improve quality of care in general and specifically ICU patients' outcome. The ICU environment was found to adversely affect patients in many aspects. In addition, most patients were able to recall their ICU experience.