Shuying Lu RN, BS , Yuanyuan Ji RN, MM , Na Wang RN, BS , Mengxian Ou RN, MSN , Naqin Zhang RN, MSN , Xiaoyu Wang RN, BS , Mengqi Yan RN, BS , Namuna Dallakoti RN, BS , Ying Wu RN, PhD , Jun Wang RN, MM
{"title":"Effectiveness of virtual reality on anxiety, pain, sleep quality, and post-traumatic stress disorder for critically ill patients in intensive care units: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials","authors":"Shuying Lu RN, BS , Yuanyuan Ji RN, MM , Na Wang RN, BS , Mengxian Ou RN, MSN , Naqin Zhang RN, MSN , Xiaoyu Wang RN, BS , Mengqi Yan RN, BS , Namuna Dallakoti RN, BS , Ying Wu RN, PhD , Jun Wang RN, MM","doi":"10.1016/j.aucc.2025.101233","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aucc.2025.101233","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of virtual reality on anxiety, pain, sleep quality, and posttraumatic stress disorder in critically ill patients within intensive care units.</div></div><div><h3>Data sources</h3><div>The data sources included PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, CENTRAL, PsycINFO, and CINAHL DATA databases.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Two authors independently conducted the literature search and quality assessment process. The pooled results were calculated using the standardised mean difference (SMD) and its 95% confidence interval (CI) using the Review Manager software (Version 5.4).</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Ten randomised controlled trials published from 2020 to 2024 were included. Most of the studies were classified as having a low risk of bias or some concerns. The evidence certainty varied from low to moderate for the different outcomes. The pooled results indicated statistically significant effectiveness in anxiety (SMD: −0.46, 95% CI: −0.80 to −0.11, <em>P</em> = 0.01) and sleep quality (SMD: 0.66, 95% CI: 0.29–1.03, <em>P</em> < 0.001) postintervention. No statistically significant effects were found for pain (SMD: −0.11, 95% CI: −0.79–0.57, <em>P</em> = 0.75) or posttraumatic stress disorder (SMD: −0.29, 95 % CI: −0.59–0.02, <em>P</em> = 0.06).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Virtual reality is practical for mitigating anxiety and enhancing sleep quality in critically ill patients within intensive care units; however, its effects on pain and posttraumatic stress disorder are nonsignificant. Virtual reality can broaden its utility and content within intensive care units by incorporating meditation, hypnosis, and cognitive behavioural strategies. Careful consideration should be given to the timing and frequency of virtual reality sessions for patients who are critically ill and unable to remain conscious.</div></div><div><h3>Implications for clinical practice</h3><div>Virtual reality is a promising complementary therapy in intensive care units. It can reduce anxiety and improve sleep quality. Still, its effects on pain and posttraumatic stress disorder are not significant, and future research should focus on optimising devices, expanding content, and selecting appropriate intervention timing and frequency.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51239,"journal":{"name":"Australian Critical Care","volume":"38 4","pages":"Article 101233"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143874120","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Wenbo Zhang PhD , Eline G.M. Cox MD, PhD , Èmese R.H. Heijkoop MD, MSc , Manon Klaver MD, MSc , Peter H.J. van der Voort MD, PhD , Harold Snieder PhD , Gerton Lunter PhD , Frederik Keus MD, PhD
{"title":"Daily prediction of next-day disease severity in critically ill patients: A prospective cohort study","authors":"Wenbo Zhang PhD , Eline G.M. Cox MD, PhD , Èmese R.H. Heijkoop MD, MSc , Manon Klaver MD, MSc , Peter H.J. van der Voort MD, PhD , Harold Snieder PhD , Gerton Lunter PhD , Frederik Keus MD, PhD","doi":"10.1016/j.aucc.2025.101230","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aucc.2025.101230","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Predictive models for intensive care unit (ICU) patients mainly focus on mortality, but short-term disease severity is more relevant for day-to-day decision-making.</div></div><div><h3>Aim</h3><div>The aim of this study was to develop and validate a daily prediction model for next-day disease severity in ICU patients.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Data from the Simple Intensive Care Studies-II prospective cohort study of acutely admitted critically ill adults, including data collected during the first 7 days of admission such as Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score–related measurements, were used to fit a mixed-effects logistic regression model for next-day deterioration. Deterioration was defined as a decline in the total (≥2) and organ-specific (≥1) SOFA scores. Performance was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), calibration plots, and decision curve analysis.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of 1009 patients were included. The final predictive model for overall next-day deterioration included six predictors (the total SOFA score on the current day, the minimum value of arterial pH, Glasgow Coma Scale score, mean arterial blood pressure, mechanical ventilation, and its effect differing between the first and subsequent ICU days). The model achieved an AUC of 0.74 (95% confidence interval: 0.70−0.78). In the decision curve analysis, within probability thresholds of 0.2–0.5, the model showed a higher net benefit than did strategies of treating all patients or treating no patients. Organ-specific prediction models for next-day deterioration in respiration, cardiovascular, and renal function showed slightly better performance than the overall model (AUCs: 0.79, 0.79, and 0.81, respectively).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Daily prediction models can predict next-day disease severity in overall, respiration, cardiovascular, and renal function amongst ICU patients. They offer clinical benefits within a range of probability thresholds and could support decision-making for ICU physicians.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51239,"journal":{"name":"Australian Critical Care","volume":"38 4","pages":"Article 101230"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143868468","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Postoperative care pathways for patients following coronary artery bypass grafting surgery: An observational study","authors":"Dima Nasrawi RN , Sharon Latimer RN, PhD , Debbie Massey RN, PhD , Brigid M. Gillespie RN, PhD","doi":"10.1016/j.aucc.2025.101234","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aucc.2025.101234","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Aims</h3><div>The aim of this study was to describe the postoperative care pathway, with phase 1 cardiac rehabilitation (CR) delivery, for adult patients following coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery at one large hospital in Queensland, Australia.</div></div><div><h3>Design and methods</h3><div>This observational study involved structured observations, patient electronic medical record audits, and field notes to gather postoperative data. Four continuous hours of patient and healthcare professional (HCP) observations gathered at 30-min intervals occurred on 12 separate days over a 1-month period (February–March 2023). We observed post-CABG patients and HCPs involved in delivering direct care. Data were gathered on the clinical care, timing, delivery mode, and education content.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Ten post-CABG patients and nine HCPs were observed. Postoperative care delivered by HCPs focussed on clinical care tasks and patient education activities. Patients participated in education focussed on respiratory exercises, wound care, anticoagulant therapy, and thromboembolic deterrent education. HCPs discussed pain management with two patients.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Education was the primary strategy delivered by HCPs to CABG patients during the postoperative care pathway and phase 1 CR; however, many patients were overwhelmed by the complicated information they received. Opportunities exist to improve the postoperative care pathway with phase 1 CR delivery by developing patient-centred education interventions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51239,"journal":{"name":"Australian Critical Care","volume":"38 4","pages":"Article 101234"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143874118","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Re: The effectiveness of a three-dimensional printed model for training novice healthcare professionals in central venous catheter insertion: A cross-sectional study in a critical care setting","authors":"Felicity Edwards, Kevin B. Laupland","doi":"10.1016/j.aucc.2025.101236","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aucc.2025.101236","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":51239,"journal":{"name":"Australian Critical Care","volume":"38 4","pages":"Article 101236"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143864766","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Kylie O'Neill RN, MN, MACCCN , Laura Brooks RN, MN, MACCCN , Elizabeth Manias RN, Pharmacist, PhD, FACCCN , Melissa J. Bloomer RN, PhD, FACCCN
{"title":"Culturally appropriate and respectful end-of-life care for patients and their families in the intensive care unit: A mixed-method study","authors":"Kylie O'Neill RN, MN, MACCCN , Laura Brooks RN, MN, MACCCN , Elizabeth Manias RN, Pharmacist, PhD, FACCCN , Melissa J. Bloomer RN, PhD, FACCCN","doi":"10.1016/j.aucc.2025.101238","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aucc.2025.101238","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Australia is culturally and linguistically diverse. Yet little is known about perceived barriers to the provision of end-of-life care tailored to diverse cultural needs and preferences.</div></div><div><h3>Aims</h3><div>The aim of this study was to measure critical care nurses’ cultural intelligence, comfort, and capabilities in providing end-of-life care and explore the perceived barriers to providing end-of-life care for culturally diverse patients and their families.</div></div><div><h3>Method</h3><div>An explanatory mixed-method approach was undertaken utilising surveys and interviews. A national survey was distributed in February 2024, collecting data about critical care nurses’ capability, comfort, and cultural intelligence when providing end-of-life care. Individual interviews were conducted with nurses between March and April 2024. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics, and open-ended survey and interview responses were analysed using inductive content analysis.</div></div><div><h3>Findings</h3><div>From the sample of 89 survey responses, the median number of years nurses worked in the intensive care unit was 15 (interquartile range = 7.0–21.5). Respondents came from 14 different countries, 20.2% (n = 18) spoke a second language, and 50.6% (n = 45) were affiliated with a religion. One-third had completed end-of-life care training (34.8%, n = 31), whilst 31.5% (n = 28) had completed training in cultural diversity. Respondents who completed end-of-life care training had significantly higher comfort and capability scores regarding end-of-life care provision (<em>Mdn</em> = 91.0) than those with no training (<em>Mdn</em> = 80.5, U = 1301.0, <em>p</em> < 0.001). Interview participants acknowledged some discomfort with diversity, and the importance of prioritising comfort and dignity, and understanding and interpreting cultural preferences. Communication challenges associated with professional interpreter access were also identified.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Critical care nurses’ comfort and capabilities with end-of-life care and perceptions of the barriers are critical to understand because end-of-life care is about more than clinical care. Supporting nurses to build their understanding and comfort with providing care that aligns with cultural and religious needs and preferences, and optimising access to professional interpreters, is imperative.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51239,"journal":{"name":"Australian Critical Care","volume":"38 4","pages":"Article 101238"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143864767","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Carys Jones MBBS , Hannah Rotherham MBBS, MHSM, FCICM , Andrew Udy MBBS, PhD, FCICM , Ary Serpa Neto MD, PhD , Nadia Chaves MBBS, FRACP , Lewis Campbell MBChB, MSc Epi, FCICM , Alex Brown MPH, PhD , Aaliya Ibrahim MClinEpid , Aidan Burrell MBBS, PhD, FCICM , the SPRINT-SARI Australia Investigators
{"title":"The relationship between administratively recorded ethnicity and outcomes for people admitted to Australian intensive care units with COVID-19","authors":"Carys Jones MBBS , Hannah Rotherham MBBS, MHSM, FCICM , Andrew Udy MBBS, PhD, FCICM , Ary Serpa Neto MD, PhD , Nadia Chaves MBBS, FRACP , Lewis Campbell MBChB, MSc Epi, FCICM , Alex Brown MPH, PhD , Aaliya Ibrahim MClinEpid , Aidan Burrell MBBS, PhD, FCICM , the SPRINT-SARI Australia Investigators","doi":"10.1016/j.aucc.2025.101228","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aucc.2025.101228","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>The relationship between ethnicity and mortality of patients critically ill with COVID-19 in Australia has not been described. Defining those communities at the highest risk of severe COVID-19 may assist with formulating effective public health policy and may improve the equitable delivery of health care in Australia.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>The aim of this study was to describe the baseline characteristics, treatments, and outcomes of administratively recorded ethnic groups admitted to Australian intensive care units with confirmed COVID-19 infection.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This was a retrospective, multicentre, cohort analysis of adult patients admitted primarily due to COVID-19 to the 78 intensive care units participating in the Short Period Incidence Study of Severe Acute Respiratory Infection Australia from February 2020 to May 2022. The main outcome measure was in-hospital mortality.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Of 4621 eligible patients admitted to intensive care units, the proportion of ethnic groups were White (38%), Middle Eastern (15%), Asian (10%), Other (10%), Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (3.3%), Black (1.1%), and Unknown (22%). Rates of vaccination, mechanical ventilation, and admission varied significantly between each group over the course of the pandemic (p < 0.01). However, after adjusting by age, body mass index, Acute Physiology And Chronic Health Evaluation II, the number of coexisting disorders, time from hospital to intensive care admission, vaccination, use of mechanical ventilation and centres, and week of admission as random effects, the only ethnicity independently associated with mortality was the “Other” group (risk difference: 5.27 [confidence interval: 0.54 to 10.01], p = 0.029).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>This study demonstrates that the outcomes of patients critically ill with COVID-19 for most ethnic groups were broadly similar, with the exception of the “Other” group who had a higher in-hospital mortality rate.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51239,"journal":{"name":"Australian Critical Care","volume":"38 4","pages":"Article 101228"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143860629","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Debbie A. Long RN, PhD , Lori Anthony MClinEpi , Kate Masterson RN, PhD , Warwick Butt MBBS, FCICM , Julie Smith MD , Leigh Dunn BAppSci , Ashfaque Quadir MBBS, FRACP , Anthony Slater MBBS, FCICM , Kristen S. Gibbons PhD
{"title":"Current provision and perceptions of paediatric intensive care unit follow-up services: A binational organisational and clinician survey","authors":"Debbie A. Long RN, PhD , Lori Anthony MClinEpi , Kate Masterson RN, PhD , Warwick Butt MBBS, FCICM , Julie Smith MD , Leigh Dunn BAppSci , Ashfaque Quadir MBBS, FRACP , Anthony Slater MBBS, FCICM , Kristen S. Gibbons PhD","doi":"10.1016/j.aucc.2025.101229","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aucc.2025.101229","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>The aim of this study was to (i) evaluate follow-up services in Australia and New Zealand for children surviving paediatric intensive care; (ii) assess clinician and service-wide knowledge of post–intensive care syndrome-paediatrics; and (iii) identify barriers to long-term follow-up services post paediatric intensive care unit admission.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Two cross-sectional, web-based REDCap surveys were designed for organisational leadership and individual clinician respondents. All paediatric intensive care units with staffed paediatric beds in Australia and New Zealand were invited to participate.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Eleven paediatric intensive care units and 345 clinicians responded to the two surveys. None of the 11 paediatric intensive care units reported having any dedicated outpatient follow-up services. Only 53% of clinicians had heard of the term post–intensive care syndrome-paediatrics prior to the survey. However, most clinicians believed that follow-up care should be provided to children following a paediatric intensive care unit admission (96%) via a combination of modalities (49%) (e.g., telehealth and face-to-face) conducted by a multidisciplinary team (32%). Both the individual clinicians and the organisational leadership respondents identified staffing and budget restraints as the biggest barriers to follow-up care.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Despite growing international evidence to support the implementation of paediatric intensive care unit follow-up services, Australian and New Zealand paediatric intensive care units do not currently offer such services. In implementing paediatric intensive care unit follow-up practices, staffing and budgetary restraints need to be addressed. Improving clinician- and organisation-wide awareness and understanding of post–intensive care syndrome-paediatrics and its impacts may also help to reduce barriers to implementing follow-up services in Australian and New Zealand paediatric intensive care units.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51239,"journal":{"name":"Australian Critical Care","volume":"38 4","pages":"Article 101229"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143860628","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Adrian Goldsworthy DPT , Mohd Fairuz Shiratuddin PhD , Oystein Tronstad BPhty , John F. Fraser PhD, FCIM , Matthew Olsen PhD , Lotti Tajouri PhD , Kok Wai Wong PhD
{"title":"Do virtual reality interventions cause seizures in the critically ill? A rapid review","authors":"Adrian Goldsworthy DPT , Mohd Fairuz Shiratuddin PhD , Oystein Tronstad BPhty , John F. Fraser PhD, FCIM , Matthew Olsen PhD , Lotti Tajouri PhD , Kok Wai Wong PhD","doi":"10.1016/j.aucc.2025.101231","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aucc.2025.101231","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>The objective of this research was to investigate if the use of virtual reality, increasingly utilised within intensive care medicine due to its demonstrated benefits in improving pain and anxiety, has been reported to result in seizures.</div></div><div><h3>Review method used</h3><div>A rapid systematic review and synthesis of qualitative and quantitative data was performed.</div></div><div><h3>Data sources</h3><div>Five databases (PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, PsycInfo, and CINAHL) were systematically searched. An additional gray literature search was also conducted. Articles were restricted to those published on or after January 1st, 2014.</div></div><div><h3>Review methods</h3><div>The number of participants, virtual reality sessions, and length of sessions was undertaken. Subgroup analysis was undertaken for both adult and paediatric patient populations. An additional subgroup analysis was undertaken on articles which did not exclude individuals with a history of epilepsy. A tailored risk-of-bias assessment was conducted.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Of the 563 articles identified through database and gray literature searching, 27 articles met inclusion criteria. A total of 886 patients have been reported within the literature with a combined 1843 virtual reality sessions, totalling more than 614.64 h of virtual reality. No seizures have been reported within intensive care patients receiving virtual reality interventions.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Historically, individuals with a history of epilepsy and photosensitivity have been commonly excluded from interventions and clinical trials involving virtual reality. The results of this systematic review demonstrate that the risk of virtual reality is minimal when utilised appropriately. A history of photosensitivity or epilepsy should not constitute an absolute contraindication for the use of virtual reality. Instead, clinicians should utilise clinical judgement when evaluating a patient's risk and ensure that appropriate visual experiences are utilised which do not unnecessarily strobe the patient.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51239,"journal":{"name":"Australian Critical Care","volume":"38 4","pages":"Article 101231"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143815276","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}