A Mixed-Methods Feasibility Study: Eliciting ICU Experiences and Measuring Outcomes of Family Caregivers of Patients Who Have Undergone Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation.
Natalie S McAndrew, Jeanne Erickson, Breanna Hetland and 6 others
PMID 37191306WHAT IT FOUND
Recruiting HSCT caregivers in the ICU was feasible, but repeating data collection after transfer was not.
Caregivers reported severe distress and felt disconnected from the ICU team compared to the transplant team, struggling with conflicting information and lack of support.
Key findings
01Enrollment was feasible with a 77% consent rate, but only 33% of caregivers completed the second data collection point after ICU transfer.
02Caregivers reported clinically significant anxiety, depression, and distress levels higher than those seen at pre-transplant stages.
03Qualitative themes revealed caregivers felt disconnected from the ICU team and distressed by conflicting information from multiple specialists.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
Very small sample size (n=9) limits generalizability. Single-site study conducted in a high-income country. Data collection was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which may have influenced caregiver stress levels and participation. High patient mortality rate prevented completion of the second data collection timepoint for many participants. The study was designed to test feasibility, not efficacy of any intervention.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The study was supported by non-US government funding.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the high distress scores as a new finding about HSCT caregiving in general; this study specifically measures the added burden of an ICU admission on top of existing transplant stress. Also, do not assume the interventions mentioned in the discussion (like palliative care or BMT-CARE) were tested or proven in this study; they are suggested for future research.