Digital Health Interventions Supporting Recovery for Intensive Care Patients and Their Family Members: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Digital innovation in interventions to promote recovery for intensive care unit (ICU) patients and their family members holds promise for enhancing accessibility and improving physical, psychological, and cognitive outcomes. This scoping review provides a comprehensive overview of digital health interventions designed to support the recovery of ICU patients and their family members described in peer-reviewed publications. We searched 6 databases (inception to September 2023); 2 reviewers independently screened citations against predefined eligibility criteria and extracted data. We screened 3485 records and identified 18 original studies and 8 study protocols with a range of study designs published between 2016 and 2023. Most (n=15) completed studies recruited patients only. Digital interventions were delivered through applications, virtual reality, videoconferencing, and smartwatches. In the completed studies, outcomes are described as feasibility, intervention efficacy, or both. Digital interventions supplemented with professional support and personalized feedback were more feasible than self-directed interventions. Further research is essential to ascertain the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of digital interventions in improving outcomes for ICU survivors and their family members.