One common source of stress for ICU patients and their families is a lack of clear, consistent, and accessible information on the ICU stay itself. To address this unmet need, a group of nurse researchers examined all ICU paper and digital educational materials from four large teaching hospitals. Materials varied in content and quality, ranging from inadequate to overwhelming. The researchers synthesized all content, eliminating disease-specific or site-specific content, and organized the material with the goal of developing a pathway for an ICU patient-family education database.

The researchers identified three categories of information according to the stages of the patient's stay: 1) ICU Arrival addressed adjusting to the ICU environment and included an arrival checklist and an ICU visitor guide; 2) Understanding the ICU and Partnering in Care included material on the ICU room and equipment, safety-related information on restraints and falls, and relevant clinical content on pain, infections, deep vein thrombosis, and pressure ulcers; and 3) ICU Transitions addressed transitioning from the ICU to rehabilitation or hospice, advance directives, and palliative care.

As the caregivers who are always present in ICUs, nurses play a crucial role in patient and family education. This pathway can guide further development of educational materials, ideally on a digital or web-based platform.-Joan Zolot, PA

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