Framework of humanistic care for patients in the ICU: A preliminary study

Abstract

BackgroundHumanistic care involves caring, concern, paying attention to people's individuality, meeting their needs and respecting their rights, which is the core concept and central task of nursing. Effective care can enhance patients’ ability to deal with stress and promote patient recovery. Implementing humanistic care in the intensive care unit (ICU) is particularly important for health care providers.Aims and objectivesThis study aims to develop a framework of the humanistic care in the ICU.DesignThe qualitative research followed Strauss' procedural grounded theory approach.MethodsPurposive sampling and theoretical sampling were used to select 12 nurses in the Department of Critical Medicine, 16 patients, and eight family members for semi‐structured interviews from October 2020 to April 2021. Results were summarized and analysed through three‐level coding based on grounded principles.ResultsSixteen subcategories and six main categories were extracted after three‐level coding, and the final ICU humanistic care framework was formed with home, activity, visit, environment, nursing and safety (“HAVENS”) as the core.ConclusionThis study provides an explanatory theory of humanistic care in the ICU that can guide nurses' practice in ICU clinical work.Relevance to clinical practiceThis theory provides guidance for nurses to implement humanistic care in critical care practice to improve the ICU stay experience of critically ill patients.

Relational skill training for patient engagement and the creation of a trauma-informed critical care

“…Humanistic care, which includes expressing care, concern, attention to individual needs, and respecting patient rights has the potential to enhance patients’ ability to deal with stress and promote recovery. 13 , 14 …”

“…Humanistic care, which includes expressing care, concern, attention to individual needs, and respecting patient rights has the potential to enhance patients' ability to deal with stress and promote recovery. 13,14 In our example, crisis intervention de-escalation strategies at the individual level were discussed including active empathic listening, provision of choice, and collaborative goal setting. These interventions, though important for individual clinicians to practice, are likely to be less effective if not practiced consistently as a team and endorsed by health leaders.…”

Introduction to the issue and goodbye as co‐editor in chief

“…The issue also includes a critical commentary 23 documenting the vital role that patient and public involvement plays in developing, delivering and disseminating clinically relevant and high-quality studies; a quality improvement study aimed at reducing diarrhoea in an adult surgical intensive care unit 24 ; a protocol for an ethnographic study of intensive care rehabilitation culture 25 ; a preliminary study aimed at developing a framework of humanistic care for patients in the intensive care 26 ; and qualitative studies exploring multidisciplinary professionals' perceptions about physical restraints 27 and relatives' experiences of the transition of ICU patients from intensive care to home. 28 In summary, we hope you find Issue 1 of 2024, which is free to access for a short period, a stimulating read.…”