Communication With Patients in Intensive Care Units: A Scoping Review
Nursing in Critical Care
Karlsen, M. W., Ølnes, M. A., et al. (2019).
Nursing in Critical Care, 24(3), 115-131.
This systematic review investigates the communication interactions and strategies used between healthcare personnel and adult intensive care unit (ICU) patients on mechanical ventilation.
Not stated
1998 to August 2017
Empirical studies; literature reviews
46
<div>Adult, mechanically ventilated patients in the ICU preferred communications aids that were easy-to-use, intuitive, and not overly complex. Patients reported increased satisfaction and improved communication regardless of the type of communication aid (e.g., low-tech or high-tech). This, in turn, reduced anxiety or frustration. No studies investigated the effects of specific types of communication aids or the impact of communication aids on patients at risk for delirium. The authors of this review conclude "a variety of communications aids should therefore be made available in ICUs to increase the possibility of success" (p. 127).</div>
