Maximizing the Use of Palliative Care Services for ICU Patients

Abstract

Background: According to the Centers for Disease Control, as of 2017, there are millions of people living with a chronic illness and often they have more than one. Palliative care is a specialty and an approach to health care that focuses on providing support to patients and their families who are dealing with chronic, serious and terminal disease by addresses physical, emotional and spiritual needs throughout the course of their illness. Growing evidence suggests that palliative care for patients with acute and chronic critical illness is essential for patients who are in ICU and can help relieve symptoms, of pain and dyspnea, improve quality of life, reduce post-ICU depression, and anxiety for both patients and their families. Despite the growing evidence to support utilizing palliative care for all ICU patients with chronic, serious, life-limiting illness, it is still not widely utilized. Objective: It is the aim of this project is to determine what the barriers and attitudes of utilizing palliative care in the ICU are and to dispel myths about palliative care by providing education about what palliative care is and the benefits it provides to patients and families. Design and setting: The design for this project is a one group, pre- and post-test design. A survey was distributed via email to providers, including MDs, DOs, PAs and NPs, who have privileges in the ICU as well as all RNs working in ICU. The pre-test survey was distributed once approval from IRB was obtained. Education followed the pre-test survey and then the post-test survey was distributed to determine if changes in knowledge and attitude about palliative had changed with education.