Skip to main content

Surviving critical illness: acute respiratory distress syndrome as experienced by patients and their caregivers.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Cox, CE; Docherty, SL; Brandon, DH; Whaley, C; Attix, DK; Clay, AS; Dore, DV; Hough, CL; White, DB; Tulsky, JA
Published in: Crit Care Med
October 2009

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the effects of critical illness in the daily lives and functioning of acute respiratory distress syndrome survivors. Survivors of acute respiratory distress syndrome, a systemic critical illness, often report poor quality of life based on responses to standardized questionnaires. However, the experiences of acute respiratory distress syndrome survivors have not been reported. DESIGN: We conducted semistructured interviews with 23 acute respiratory distress syndrome survivors and 24 caregivers 3 to 9 mos after intensive care unit admission, stopping enrollment after thematic saturation was reached. Transcripts were analyzed, using Colaizzi's qualitative methodology, to identify significant ways in which survivors' critical illness experience impacted their lives. SETTING: Medical and surgical intensive care units of an academic medical center and a community hospital. PATIENTS: We recruited consecutively 31 acute respiratory distress syndrome survivors and their informal caregivers. Eight patients died before completing interviews. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Participants related five key elements of experience as survivors of acute respiratory distress syndrome: 1) pervasive memories of critical care; 2) day-to-day impact of new disability; 3) critical illness defining the sense of self; 4) relationship strain and change; and 5) ability to cope with disability. Survivors described remarkable disability that persisted for months. Caregivers' interviews revealed substantial strain from caregiving responsibilities as well as frequent symptom minimization by patients. CONCLUSIONS: The diverse and unique experiences of acute respiratory distress syndrome survivors reflect the global impact of severe critical illness. We have identified symptom domains important to acute respiratory distress syndrome patients who are not well represented in existing health outcomes measures. These insights may aid the development of targeted interventions to enhance recovery and return of function after acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Duke Scholars

Altmetric Attention Stats
Dimensions Citation Stats

Published In

Crit Care Med

DOI

EISSN

1530-0293

Publication Date

October 2009

Volume

37

Issue

10

Start / End Page

2702 / 2708

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Survivors
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
  • Social Support
  • Sick Role
  • Self Concept
  • Respiratory Distress Syndrome
  • Quality of Life
  • Patient Care Team
  • Outcome Assessment, Health Care
  • Middle Aged
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Cox, C. E., Docherty, S. L., Brandon, D. H., Whaley, C., Attix, D. K., Clay, A. S., … Tulsky, J. A. (2009). Surviving critical illness: acute respiratory distress syndrome as experienced by patients and their caregivers. Crit Care Med, 37(10), 2702–2708. https://doi.org/10.1097/CCM.0b013e3181b6f64a
Cox, Christopher E., Sharron L. Docherty, Debra H. Brandon, Christie Whaley, Deborah K. Attix, Alison S. Clay, Daniel V. Dore, Catherine L. Hough, Douglas B. White, and James A. Tulsky. “Surviving critical illness: acute respiratory distress syndrome as experienced by patients and their caregivers.Crit Care Med 37, no. 10 (October 2009): 2702–8. https://doi.org/10.1097/CCM.0b013e3181b6f64a.
Cox CE, Docherty SL, Brandon DH, Whaley C, Attix DK, Clay AS, et al. Surviving critical illness: acute respiratory distress syndrome as experienced by patients and their caregivers. Crit Care Med. 2009 Oct;37(10):2702–8.
Cox, Christopher E., et al. “Surviving critical illness: acute respiratory distress syndrome as experienced by patients and their caregivers.Crit Care Med, vol. 37, no. 10, Oct. 2009, pp. 2702–08. Pubmed, doi:10.1097/CCM.0b013e3181b6f64a.
Cox CE, Docherty SL, Brandon DH, Whaley C, Attix DK, Clay AS, Dore DV, Hough CL, White DB, Tulsky JA. Surviving critical illness: acute respiratory distress syndrome as experienced by patients and their caregivers. Crit Care Med. 2009 Oct;37(10):2702–2708.

Published In

Crit Care Med

DOI

EISSN

1530-0293

Publication Date

October 2009

Volume

37

Issue

10

Start / End Page

2702 / 2708

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Survivors
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
  • Social Support
  • Sick Role
  • Self Concept
  • Respiratory Distress Syndrome
  • Quality of Life
  • Patient Care Team
  • Outcome Assessment, Health Care
  • Middle Aged