Patient, Family and Provider Priorities in ICU Rehabilitation: An Experience-Based Co-Design Study

Area of Science:

• Critical Care Medicine
• Rehabilitation Science
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Intensive care unit (ICU) rehabilitation improves outcomes for critically ill patients.
• Varied implementation necessitates clinical practice guidelines (CPGs).
• Patient and public involvement (PPI) is crucial for CPG development.

Purpose of the Study:

• Explore patient, family, and provider experiences with ICU rehabilitation.
• Identify shared priorities for Korean CPGs on ICU rehabilitation and post-intensive care syndrome.

Main Methods:

• Employed Experience-Based Co-Design (EBCD) approach.
• Utilized observations, patient interviews, and healthcare professional focus groups.
• Incorporated patient audio recordings and qualitative findings in feedback events.

Main Results:

• Identified four core priorities: patient/family partnership, person-centred care, rehabilitation culture/teamwork, and sustainability.
• Validated findings with clinicians involved in CPG development.

Conclusions:

• Patient and family centrality is vital throughout the rehabilitation journey.
• Structural support for workforce and reimbursement is essential.
• Culturally sensitive teamwork and community linkages are crucial for sustained rehabilitation.