Palliative care interventions in intensive care unit patients - a systematic review protocol

Area of Science:

• Critical Care Medicine
• Health Services Research
• Palliative Care

Background:

• Palliative care (PC) improves quality of life, reduces caregiver burden, and optimizes resource utilization in intensive care units (ICUs).
• Despite benefits, PC integration into ICUs faces barriers, including a lack of understanding of PC services and inconsistent availability across European countries.
• Variations in PC provision highlight the need for a comprehensive overview of current practices and their effectiveness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and compare the number and types of palliative care interventions implemented in ICUs globally.
• To assess the impact of these PC interventions on various stakeholder outcomes, including patients, families, and clinicians.
• To evaluate the effect of PC interventions on intensive care unit resource utilization.

Main Methods:

• A systematic review of published, peer-reviewed journal articles will be conducted.
• Searches will encompass major databases (MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane, CINAHL, PsycINFO) using terms related to 'palliative care' and 'intensive care'.
• Studies including patient populations receiving PC interventions will be selected, with a focus on full-text articles, adhering to PRISMA guidelines.

Main Results:

• This section is to be populated upon completion of the systematic review.
• Anticipated results will detail the range of PC interventions in ICUs and their documented effects.
• Quantitative and qualitative impacts on patient, family, and clinician outcomes will be analyzed.

Conclusions:

• This review will offer insights into palliative care implementation within ICUs.
• It will elucidate international differences in PC services and identify effective models of care.
• Findings will inform research priorities for enhancing palliative care in critical care settings.