Videoart in the intensive care unit: A prospective observational study

Background

This study sought to evaluate the role of videoart in decreasing the risk of stress symptoms in patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit (ICU).

Methods

This is a prospective observational cohort study conducted in a general ICU in which 8 of 18 rooms are equipped with a videoart system. Competent patients who spent at least 48 h in the ICU were asked to complete an Impact of Events Scale (IES) questionnaire during hospitalization and at least 1 year after discharge. Patients were recruited from April 2017 until June 2020, and follow-up phone calls were made from June to August 2021. The primary outcome was an IES score indicative of significant stress symptoms during hospitalization. Secondary outcomes were IES scores indicative of significant stress symptoms after discharge and clinical parameters during hospital stay. The cut-off value for high-risk stress symptoms was 26. However, because there is uncertainty in the literature regarding the desired cut-off value, two other values were also analyzed. Outcomes that were found statistically significant were further examined using a logistic regression model for the control of confounders.

Results

Eighty-one patients completed the questionnaire during hospital stay and 24 patients after discharge. At home, patients who were exposed to videoart had a marginally lower mean IES score (median=6 [interquartile range: 0–18] vs. median=32 [interquartile range:10–45], P = 0.054) and a significantly lower rate of high-risk stress symptoms using the primary cut-off value (11.8 % vs. 57.1 %, P=0.038; odds ratio=10.00 95 % CI: 1.22 to 81.80, P=0.03). However, statistical significance was lost after adjustment for confounders (odds ratio=12.00, 95 % CI: 0.67 to 222.00, P=0.09) . There was no difference in the mean IES score, significant stress symptoms rate, or in any of the other endpoints examined during the hospital stay.

Conclusions

There is a trend toward the beneficial effect of videoart for the alleviation of stress symptoms among ICU patients. However, further study is needed to examine the role of this technology.