Peer support in intensive care unit follow-up: A qualitative evaluation

Area of Science:

• Critical care medicine
• Patient recovery and support
• Qualitative research methodologies

Background:

• Former intensive care unit (ICU) patients and relatives seek information and connection post-discharge.
• Existing post-ICU peer support models lack formal evaluation.
• Survivors desire shared experiences to navigate life after critical illness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the content and setting of structured group meetings for ICU survivors and relatives.
• To explore participants' experiences of peer interaction in a post-ICU support setting.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative evaluation using focused ethnographic observations.
• Semi-structured interviews with 22 participants across three ICU café meetings.
• Thematic analysis of collected data.

Main Results:

• Three emergent themes: 'Accommodating diversity,' 'Identification possibilities,' and 'Newfound community.'
• Content, setting, and timing were less critical than peer interaction.
• Participants felt alone and unprepared for post-ICU life before attending.
• Joint attendance of patients and relatives is beneficial due to shared impact.

Conclusions:

• Peer support fosters a secure community, alleviating feelings of isolation.
• The act of meeting peers is paramount, superseding specific operational models.
• Creating a secure environment for patients and relatives is key for effective peer support.