Exploring ICU patients' experiences and end-of-life wishes
Intensive Care Decision-making, Survival and Dying Well: How do the Experiences of Intensive Care Patients and Their End-of-life Wishes Affect Their Willingness to Accept Intensive Care Treatment at Different Chances of Survival?
This study is trying to understand how patients in intensive care feel about their treatment and what their wishes are for end-of-life care to help improve future ICU experiences.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 50 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of Manchester Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Manchester) |
| Trial ID | NCT06027684 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This observational study investigates how the experiences of patients in intensive care units (ICUs) and their end-of-life preferences influence their willingness to accept ICU treatment under varying chances of survival. It aims to understand the reflections of ICU survivors regarding their treatment experiences and how these relate to their preferences for end-of-life care. Participants will complete a questionnaire and engage in discussions about their experiences, focusing on the emotional and psychological aspects of ICU treatment. The study addresses the increasing demand for ICU care among elderly patients with low survival chances and seeks to shed light on the distressing experiences reported by ICU survivors.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are individuals aged 18 and older who have previously been patients in an intensive care unit and are willing to discuss their experiences and preferences.
Not a fit: Patients who are under 18, have had planned ICU admissions, cannot consent, or face significant language barriers may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could improve decision-making processes for ICU treatment and enhance end-of-life care for critically ill patients.
How similar studies have performed: While this study addresses a critical area of patient experience in ICU settings, similar studies have highlighted the distressing experiences of ICU patients, suggesting that this approach is both relevant and necessary.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * The principle inclusion criteria are being 18 years or older and having previously been a patient on an intensive care/critical care unit in the past. * Being willing to talk about experiences of intensive care treatment, end-of-life wishes, and the context (chances of survival/functional decline) which would make intensive care treatments acceptable and being willing to either meet in person or have access to a computer, tablet or mobile phone with video and a stable internet connection (for a Zoom conversation) are also inclusion criteria. Exclusion Criteria: * The exclusion criteria are being under the age of 18, having had a planned admission to an intensive care/critical care unit (e.g. after an elective operation), being unable to consent to participate in the research and having a significant language barrier (as there is no available funding to pay for translation).
Where this trial is running
Manchester
- University of Manchester — Manchester, United Kingdom (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Thomas M Donaldson, MB/BChir — University of Manchester
- Study coordinator: Thomas M Donaldson, MB/BChir
- Email: thomas.donaldson-2@postgrad.manchester.ac.uk
- Phone: 07737298024
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.