Emotional response of critically-ill cardiac patients during hygiene procedures in intensive care: a prospective and descriptive study.
Silvia Pérez-Ortega, Elena Querol Vallés, Judith Prats Barrera and 2 others
PMID 37937595WHAT IT FOUND
First-time ICU patients report more embarrassment, privacy invasion and upset from interruptions during bed hygiene than those with prior experience.
Most value communication with staff. Few wanted family assistance. Nurses should expect first-time patients to be more sensitive to these factors.
Key findings
01Patients who had never undergone bed hygiene in the ICU felt significantly more embarrassed and reported their intimacy was more invaded compared to those with previous experience.
02First-time patients were significantly more upset by interruptions and by the door being opened during hygiene procedures than patients with prior ICU hygiene experience.
03The majority of patients valued communication with healthcare professionals during hygiene, and most did not feel pain or temperature discomfort.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The questionnaire was ad hoc and not validated for psychometric properties. The study was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic with restricted visiting hours, which may have influenced patients' lower preference for family participation in care. The sample was drawn from a single center, limiting generalizability. The study design did not account for gender perspective, categorizing patients only by biological sex.
Declared interests
None declared.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that all ICU patients feel comfortable with standard hygiene routines or that previous experience makes patients indifferent to privacy. First-time patients report significantly higher levels of embarrassment and distress from interruptions, requiring more sensitive and individualized care during these procedures.