Abstract

Objectives: Objectives of this study were to characterize the counselling (broadly defined) that Finnish adult intensive care unit patients received and needed during intensive care according to patients’ records and memories.

Design setting: The study was based on retrospective analysis of patient records and documented follow-up clinics, using a descriptive, qualitative approach and deductive-inductive content analysis.

Findings: According to both the records and documented memories of 162 patients (56 women and 106 men aged 18–75 years; mean 50.8, median 53.5 years) patients’ confidence in their own recovery, including feelings of safety and ability to participate, is enhanced by counselling during intensive care. They had strong memories of counselling that gave them knowledge about their medical conditions and procedures, symptoms, care, and psychological support. At follow-up, patients did not have such strong memories of lifestyle counselling that they received during intensive care.

Conclusions: Patients need counselling during an intensive care unit stay to improve their confidence in their recovery. The counselling strategy for intensive care should be documented, and patient memories collected during follow-up clinics, to help assessment of the quality of counselling provided in intensive care.

Implications for clinical practice: Counselling during intensive care enhances patients’ confidence in their own recovery. To assess the quality of counselling it is essential to recognize the types provided and needed. Appropriate documentation is crucial for evaluating intensive care unit patient counselling, and planning its continuity.