The nature and sources of the emotional distress felt by intensivists and the burdens that are carried: A qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Work in intensive care units is often traumatic and emotionally distressing, sometimes leading to growth but at other times to negative outcomes such as worker burnout and mental illness. The type and origin of distresses to intensivists has been poorly characterised in the literature. This evidence gap makes it difficult to develop tailored educational process or cultural interventions for all who work within the specialty. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to elicit the nature and sources of workplace emotional distress in an international sample of intensivists. METHOD: Interviews were undertaken with experienced intensivists in Australia and Israel related to the basis of workplace distress. These were transcribed and qualitatively thematically analysed. RESULTS: In 2018, 19 intensivists participated in the study. Several key themes emerged from data analysis, some relating to clinical work, such as catastrophic patient outcomes, and some relating to interpersonal and systems-level challenges. Navigating complex interpersonal dynamics with carers and staff, both within and outside the intensive care unit team, caused substantial emotional burden. CONCLUSIONS: Many factors contribute to workplace stress for doctors in the intensive care setting. In elucidating common reactions to these stressors, we have attempted to normalise responses. We further note that the skill sets relevant to the many challenges identified are generally missing in medical training curricula. It may be prudent to consider their inclusion in the future.

Comparison of Patients Undergoing Tracheostomy in the Intensive Care Unit versus in the Wards.

BACKGROUND: In Israel, critically ill patients are ventilated and managed in intensive care units or general wards. OBJECTIVES: To compare the mortality rates and long-term cognitive and functional outcomes of ventilated patients who underwent tracheostomy insertion in the Medical ICU (MICU) versus those cared for in the in-patient wards. METHODS: The study comprised 170 patients who underwent percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT) over an 18-month period in the MICU (n=102) and in in-patient wards (internal medicine and neurology) (n=68). Telephone interviews were conducted with living patients and/or their relatives at least 6 months after discharge from the hospital. RESULTS: Ward patients were 10 years older than ICU patients undergoing PDT (P = 0.003). The length of stay (LOS) in the wards was longer than in the ICU (P < 0.001), whereas the total LOS in the hospital was similar (P = 0.43). ICU mortality was lower than in the wards (P = 0.001) but hospital mortality was comparable between the two groups (P = 0.17). At 6 months follow-up more ICU patients were fully conscious, weaned from ventilation, and decannulated. More patients in the ICU group were at home and were independent or had mildly impaired activities of daily living. More patients in the ward group were residing in long-term care facilities with functional limitations. CONCLUSIONS: MICU patients who undergo tracheostomy may have a good long-term functional and cognitive outcome. More studies are needed to further assess long-term outcomes in these patients.