Intensive care
About this PSP
Despite ongoing research activity in the UK and other countries, there are still many questions about the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care of critically ill adults that remain unanswered. Given that resources for research are limited, it is important for research funders to understand how patients, their families and clinicians prioritise these unanswered questions so that future research can be targeted accordingly.
Led by the Intensive Care Foundation, with a wide range of partners and supporters, this PSP also aimed to increase awareness of why research into critical illness is necessary and important.
The Intensive Care PSP Top 10 was published in October 2014.
Top 10 priorities
The Intensive Care PSP identified these questions as the top 3 in importance to patients, carers and health professionals:
- How can patients who may benefit from intensive care be identified early and admitted to the ITU at the right time?
- How can patients and their families be best supported as they start living at home again (e.g. health and social care services, ICU support groups, long term follow-up)?
- What is the best way to identify patients with, or at risk of delirium or agitation – how should the immediate and long term effects of delirium or agitation be monitored and managed?
These were the other high priorities identified (in no order of priority):
- What is the best way to prevent, diagnose and treat hospital acquired infection (e.g. ventilator associated pneumonia, blood stream infections related to the use of invasive lines)?
- When should physical rehabilitation start and what rehabilitation methods during and after critical illness achieve the best outcomes for patients?
- How can we enhance patient comfort during Intensive Care (i.e. minimise pain, discomfort, agitation and anxiety) and does this improve patient outcome?
- How can the physical consequences of critical illness (such as muscle wasting, weakness, nerve damage) be prevented and what is the best way to support recovery from these after intensive care?
- What psychological support should be provided for patients in Intensive Care?
- How can we predict who will benefit from intensive care before admission and during treatment in the ICU?
- What is the best way of ensuring new knowledge and the latest defined standards are introduced into clinical practice in a timely and effective way?
- How can we use the experiences of patients and families to improve intensive care?
- What is the best way of preventing damage to the lungs of patients receiving respiratory support (ventilation)?