Feasibility of Nurse-Led Multidimensional Outcome Assessments in the Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit

The outcome focus for survivors of critical care has shifted from mortality to patient-centered outcomes. Multidimensional outcome assessments performed in critically ill patients typically exclude those with primary neurological injuries.

To determine the feasibility of measurements of physical function, cognition, and quality of life in patients requiring neurocritical care.

This evaluation of a quality improvement initiative involved all patients admitted to the neuroscience intensive care unit at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center.

Telephone assessments of physical function (Glasgow Outcome Scale-Extended and modified Rankin Scale scores), cognition (modified Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status), and quality of life (5-level EQ-5D) were conducted between 3 and 6 months after admission.

During the 2-week pilot phase, the authors contacted and completed data entry for all patients admitted to the neuroscience intensive care unit over a 2-week period in approximately 11 hours. During the 18-month implementation phase, the authors followed 1324 patients at a mean (SD) time of 4.4 (0.8) months after admission. Mortality at follow-up was 38.9%; 74.8% of these patients underwent withdrawal of care. The overall loss to follow-up rate was 23.6%. Among all patients contacted, 94% were available by the second attempt to interview them by telephone.

Obtaining multidimensional outcome assessments by telephone across a diverse population of neurocritically ill patients was feasible and efficient. The sample was similar to those in other cohort studies in the neurocritical care population, and the loss to follow-up rate was comparable with that of the general critical care population.