Determinants of Health-Related Quality of Life After ICU: Importance of Patient Demographics, Previous Comorbidity, and Severity of Illness.

Objectives: ICU survivors frequently report reduced health-related quality of life, but the relative importance of preillness versus acute illness factors in survivor populations is not well understood. We aimed to explore health-related quality of life trajectories over 12 months following ICU discharge, patterns of improvement, or deterioration over this period, and the relative importance of demographics (age, gender, social deprivation), preexisting health (Functional Comorbidity Index), and acute illness severity (Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score, ventilation days) as determinants of health-related quality of life and relevant patient-reported symptoms during the year following ICU discharge.

Design: Nested cohort study within a previously published randomized controlled trial.

Treadmill training to improve mobility for people with sub-acute stroke: a phase II feasibility randomized controlled trial.

Objective: This phase II study investigated the feasibility and potential effectiveness of treadmill training versus normal gait re-education for ambulant and non-ambulant people with sub-acute stroke delivered as part of normal clinical practice.

Design: A single-blind, feasibility randomized controlled trial.

Setting: Four hospital-based stroke units.

'Intensive care unit survivorship' - a constructivist grounded theory of surviving critical illness.

Aims And Objectives: To theorise intensive care unit survivorship after a critical illness based on longitudinal qualitative data.

Background: Increasingly, patients survive episodes of critical illness. However, the short- and long-term impact of critical illness includes physical, psychological, social and economic challenges long after hospital discharge.

Early mobilisation in intensive care units in Australia and Scotland: a prospective, observational cohort study examining mobilisation practises and barriers.

Introduction: Mobilisation of patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) is an area of growing research. Currently, there is little data on baseline mobilisation practises and the barriers to them for patients of all admission diagnoses.

Methods: The objectives of the study were to (1) quantify and benchmark baseline levels of mobilisation in Australian and Scottish ICUs, (2) compare mobilisation practises between Australian and Scottish ICUs and (3) identify barriers to mobilisation in Australian and Scottish ICUs.

Increased Hospital-Based Physical Rehabilitation and Information Provision After Intensive Care Unit Discharge: The RECOVER Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Critical illness results in disability and reduced health-related quality of life (HRQOL), but the optimum timing and components of rehabilitation are uncertain.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of increasing physical and nutritional rehabilitation plus information delivered during the post-intensive care unit (ICU) acute hospital stay by dedicated rehabilitation assistants on subsequent mobility, HRQOL, and prevalent disabilities.

Design, Setting, And Participants: A parallel group, randomized clinical trial with blinded outcome assessment at 2 hospitals in Edinburgh, Scotland, of 240 patients discharged from the ICU between December 1, 2010, and January 31, 2013, who required at least 48 hours of mechanical ventilation.

A rehabilitation intervention to promote physical recovery following intensive care: a detailed description of construct development, rationale and content together with proposed taxonomy to capture processes in a randomised controlled trial.

Background: Increasing numbers of patients are surviving critical illness, but survival may be associated with a constellation of physical and psychological sequelae that can cause ongoing disability and reduced health-related quality of life. Limited evidence currently exists to guide the optimum structure, timing, and content of rehabilitation programmes. There is a need to both develop and evaluate interventions to support and expedite recovery during the post-ICU discharge period.

A longitudinal qualitative exploration of healthcare and informal support needs among survivors of critical illness: the RELINQUISH protocol.

Introduction And Background: Survival following critical illness is associated with a significant burden of physical, emotional and psychosocial morbidity. Recovery can be protracted and incomplete, with important and sustained effects upon everyday life, including family life, social participation and return to work. In stark contrast with other critically ill patient groups (eg, those following cardiothoracic surgery), there are comparatively few interventional studies of rehabilitation among the general intensive care unit patient population.

A randomised controlled trial evaluating a rehabilitation complex intervention for patients following intensive care discharge: the RECOVER study.

Introduction: Patients who survive an intensive care unit admission frequently suffer physical and psychological morbidity for many months after discharge. Current rehabilitation pathways are often fragmented and little is known about the optimum method of promoting recovery. Many patients suffer reduced quality of life.

"Functional electrical stimulation (FES) impacted on important aspects of my life": a qualitative exploration of chronic stroke patients' and carers' perceptions of FES in the management of dropped foot.

Our purpose was to explore the impact of functional electrical stimulation (FES), as applied in the management of dropped foot, on patients with chronic stroke and their carers. A qualitative phenomenological study was undertaken. Participants were recruited from the Lothian FES clinic.

Rehabilitation after critical illness: could a ward-based generic rehabilitation assistant promote recovery?

Aim: The aim of this paper is to explore issues surrounding the implementation of a generic rehabilitation assistant (GRA) to provide ward-based rehabilitation after critical illness.

Background: Following critical illness a range of both physical and psychological problems can occur that include muscle wasting and weakness, fatigue, reduced appetite, post-traumatic stress, anxiety and depression. Limited research exists evaluating the provision of rehabilitation to this patient group.