Estimating ICU Benefit: A Randomized Study of Physicians.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

The distinction between overuse and appropriate use of the ICU hinges on whether a patient would benefit from ICU care. We sought to test 1) whether physicians agree about which types of patients benefit from ICU care and 2) whether estimates of ICU benefit are influenced by factors unrelated to severity of illness.

Design

Randomized study.

Setting

Online vignettes.

Subjects

U.S. critical care physicians.

Interventions

Physicians were provided with eight vignettes of hypothetical patients. Each vignette had a single patient or hospital factor randomized across participants (four factors related and four unrelated to severity of illness).

Measurements and main results

The primary outcome was the estimate of ICU benefit, assessed with a 4

SUBMITTER: Valley TS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6298833 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature