Screening of Patients at Risk for Post-Intensive Care Unit Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Many patients discharged from the intensive care unit (ICU) setting experience post-ICU post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for up to a year after discharge. With the right knowledge and screening tools ICU staff can minimize the frequency and severity of post-ICU PTSD. The focus of this project was to assess current knowledge, develop a screening tool, and present it to ICU staff. This project assessed knowledge of post-ICU post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among nurses in a surgical ICU and then provided education to address gaps in understanding. A screening tool was implemented for 2 weeks to help identify patients at risk of developing post-ICU PTSD. A survey after the trial evaluated the tool and nurses' knowledge following education and use of the screening tool. Overall, of the nurses who used the post-ICU PTSD risk-screening tool for 2 weeks, 80% found it to be usable and 87% reported it was feasible. Nurses' knowledge of post-ICU PTSD improved, with an increase of 73% in their understanding of risk factors and a 10% improvement in their knowledge about preventing post-ICU PTSD. In addition, 87% confirmed they were better able to identify patients at risk for post-ICU PTSD. Nurses also reported increased personal empathy and awareness of the perspective of their patients. As 20% of our patients in the ICU will experience PTSD from their ICU hospitalization, it is essential that healthcare providers recognize which patients are most likely to be traumatized. This screening tool is usable and feasible, but requires further validation. Educating nurses with a trial of the screening tool increased knowledge and empathy concerning post-ICU PTSD.