Psychological Outcomes in Family Members of Acute Respiratory Failure Patients: Does Inter-ICU Transfer Play a Role?

Abstract: Background Family members of ICU patients experience a constellation of sequelae described as post-intensive care syndrome-family. The influence that an inter-ICU transfer has on psychological outcomes is unknown. Research Question Is inter-ICU transfer associated with poor psychological outcomes in families of Acute Respiratory Failure (ARF) patients? Study Design and Methods- Cross-sectional observational study of 82 families of patients admitted to adult ICUs (tertiary hospital). Data included demographics, admission source and outcomes. Admission source was classified as ‘inter-ICU transfer’(N=39) for patients admitted to the ICU from other hospitals, and ‘direct admit’ (N=43) for patients admitted from the emergency room or the operating room of the same hospital. We used quantitative surveys to evaluate psychological distress (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; HADS) and post-traumatic stress (Post-Traumatic Stress Scale; PTSS) and examined clinical, family, and satisfaction factors associated with psychological outcomes. Results Transferred families travelled longer distances (M = 109 miles, SD = 106) compared to direct admits (M = 65 miles, SD = 156) (p= Interpretation- In this exploratory study, post-traumatic stress measured by PTSS was higher in the transferred families, but these findings will need to be replicated to infer clinical significance.