Animation supported communication on intensive care; a service improvement initiative.

Objective: COVID-19 has created unique challenges for families of patients admitted to intensive care units. Restricted visiting, language barriers and time constraints have limited communication, resulting in a lack of understanding and anxiety. We introduced digital animations to support communication and assessed the impact on families of patients admitted to intensive care.

Methods: Multi-language animations explaining mechanical ventilation, (www.explainmyprocedure.com/icu) were introduced at two London intensive care units during the COVID-19 pandemic. Web-links were sent by email. Reported understanding of the treatment, its benefits, risks and alternatives was assessed among family contacts of 71 consecutive patients admitted to intensive care; 39 before the animations were introduced (no animation group) and 32 afterwards (animation group). Reported understanding in the two groups was assessed by telephone questionnaire and compared.

Results: Following introduction, all relatives reported they had watched the animation. The proportions who reported complete understanding of mechanical ventilation, its benefits, risks and alternatives, in the no animation group (n = 39) were, respectively, 15%, 28%, 0% and 3% and in the animation group (n = 32), 94%, 97%, 84% and 66% (p < 0.0001 for all comparisons).

Conclusion: Family use of online multi-language animations explaining mechanical ventilation is feasible, acceptable and associated with substantial improvement in understanding. The approach is not limited to mechanical ventilation, or to use in a pandemic, and has the potential to be applied to a wide range of treatment and recovery pathways on intensive care.