ICU treatment Archives - Critical Care Science (CCS)

BACKGROUND AND OBJETIVES: To evaluate the quality and satisfaction of life (QSL) of patients before admission in ICU, and after hospital discharge. To verify the influence of the patient's demographic/clinic/therapeutic factors in the QSL. METHODS: Prospective cohort study with quali-quantitative approach. All patients admitted in ICU/HU/UFSC from April-July 2005, who's stayed more than 24 hours were included. Initially, the data of QSL before ICU admission, patient's demographics/clinics/therapeutics features were recorded. Afterwards, by telephone, 7, 90 and 180 days after hospital discharge, the patients answered the questionnaires about QSL. In the sequence, all patients were subdivided into 2 main groups: unchanged or better, and worse QSL. Data were analyzed using t Student and Chi-square tests (p-value < 0.05). RESULTS: Sixty eight patients were enrolled into the study. Completed questionnaires were obtained from 21 of them. A comparison of 7, 90 and 180 days after hospital discharge showed that QSL of patients was unchanged or better at 90 and 180 days. The majority of patients expressed more satisfaction in that moment. Unchanged or better QSL was associated with advanced age. However, there were no statistical significant differences in sex, schooling, APACHE II score, length of stay, mechanical ventilation and used drugs. Sixty percent returned to their previous work. CONCLUSIONS: There was a tendency for patients who felt themselves satisfied after hospital discharge to have their QSL improved as time went bye. Better QSL was associated with advanced age. Even when patients reported worse QSL they returned to their previous work.