Visual and auditory stimulation for patients in the intensive care unit: A mixed-method study.
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BORIS DOI
Publisher DOI
PubMed ID
35931597
Description
OBJECTIVES
To determine what type (e.g., television, photographs, music, etc), content (e.g., nature scenes, family members, etc), and duration of visual and auditory stimuli should be provided to intensive care unit patients during their hospitalisation.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND DESIGN
This mixed-methods study followed an exploratory-descriptive design. In total, 31 participants were interviewed: 19 were former critically ill patients in the intensive care unit and 12 were nursing experts, all from a university hospital in Switzerland. Based on current practice, patients and nurses were familiar with receiving and providing television, photographs, radio, and musical stimuli, with no specific exposure to virtual reality, aside from that in their personal lives. Data were collected from the former patients using structured interviews, whereas semi-structured interviews were used for the nursing experts.
FINDINGS
Overall, patient and expert opinions aligned well; both groups agreed that receiving visual and/or auditory stimuli would benefit patients. Photographs, television, and virtual reality were the visual stimuli most chosen by the patients, with an emphasis on nature-focused content. When appropriate, audio matching the content should be provided alongside the visual stimuli to act as a distraction from the hospital environment. Visual stimuli should not exceed 10-15 min, while auditory stimuli should not exceed one hour.
CONCLUSION
Sensory overload and deprivation are common problems in the intensive care unit with negative effects on patient outcomes. Based on patient and expert opinions, visual and auditory stimuli are desired by patients and could help address these issues.
To determine what type (e.g., television, photographs, music, etc), content (e.g., nature scenes, family members, etc), and duration of visual and auditory stimuli should be provided to intensive care unit patients during their hospitalisation.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND DESIGN
This mixed-methods study followed an exploratory-descriptive design. In total, 31 participants were interviewed: 19 were former critically ill patients in the intensive care unit and 12 were nursing experts, all from a university hospital in Switzerland. Based on current practice, patients and nurses were familiar with receiving and providing television, photographs, radio, and musical stimuli, with no specific exposure to virtual reality, aside from that in their personal lives. Data were collected from the former patients using structured interviews, whereas semi-structured interviews were used for the nursing experts.
FINDINGS
Overall, patient and expert opinions aligned well; both groups agreed that receiving visual and/or auditory stimuli would benefit patients. Photographs, television, and virtual reality were the visual stimuli most chosen by the patients, with an emphasis on nature-focused content. When appropriate, audio matching the content should be provided alongside the visual stimuli to act as a distraction from the hospital environment. Visual stimuli should not exceed 10-15 min, while auditory stimuli should not exceed one hour.
CONCLUSION
Sensory overload and deprivation are common problems in the intensive care unit with negative effects on patient outcomes. Based on patient and expert opinions, visual and auditory stimuli are desired by patients and could help address these issues.
Date of Publication
2022-12
Publication Type
Article
Subject(s)
600 - Technology::610 - Medicine & health
Keyword(s)
Auditory stimulation Intensive care unit Interviews Mixed-methods Questionnaires Virtual reality Visual stimulation
Language(s)
en
Contributor(s)
Additional Credits
ARTORG Center - Gerontechnology and Rehabilitation
Universitätsklinik für Intensivmedizin
Series
Intensive & critical care nursing
Publisher
Elsevier
ISSN
1532-4036
Access(Rights)
open.access