Grant: DRA : Canada Graduate Research Scholarship - Doctoral Program (CGRS D)

Some people who are treated in an intensive care unit (ICU) in Canada may have lasting health problems, such as needing to use machines to help them breathe for a long time or experiencing physical, mental, and emotional challenges even after they leave the ICU. One possibility to improve recovery might be for patients and healthcare workers to work together while the patient is in the ICU to create a personalized care plan. This study will explore strategies for patients and healthcare workers to set goals together, such as managing anxiety while on a ventilator, exercising to build strength, and monitoring progress. Twenty long-stay intensive care unit (ICU) will take part in the study, along with ten healthcare workers. The study team will record information about the patients while they're in the ICU, such as their age, diagnosis, and how long they stay or need a ventilator. After they leave the hospital, the patients will have two check-ups, at 6 months and 12 months, where healthcare workers will see if they are having problems with strength, feelings, or thinking. The researchers will also ask patients what they think and feel about the strategies that were used while they were in the ICU. Healthcare workers will be asked about the strategies used during care as well. This is a small-scale study that will test different parts of the research to help plan for a large-scale study in the future. The research may help nurses, doctors, and physical therapists to work with patients more effectively and help patients recover more fully after the intensive care unit.