Patient and Family Member-Led Research in the Intensive Care Unit: A Novel Approach to Patient-Centered Research.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Engaging patients and family members as partners in research increases the relevance of study results and enhances patient-centered care; how to best engage patients and families in research is unknown.

Methods

We tested a novel research approach that engages and trains patients and family members as researchers to see if we could understand and describe the experiences of patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) and their families. Former patients and family members conducted focus groups and interviews with patients (n = 11) and families of surviving (n = 14) and deceased (n = 7) patients from 13 ICUs in Alberta Canada, and analyzed data using conventional content analysis. Separate blinded qualitative researchers conducted an independent analysis.

SUBMITTER: Gill M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4975402 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature