Grant: Project Grant

Critically ill patients encounter a multitude of acute and sustained stressors in a sensory overloaded, highly technical physical environment resulting in high stress levels. Stress may interfere with critically ill patients' recovery and it may account for decreased quality of life and high levels of stress and anxiety after discharge from the critical care unit. This pilot study investigates whether a relaxation intervention including instructions and music through headphones and positive touch massage administered by nurses can improve critically ill patients` health outcomes including prevention of delirium, less pain, less stress, improved quality of sleep and decreased length of stay in the critical care unit. Investigators will assess effects on levels of inflammatory molecules in the blood and overall relaxation signaling through the autonomic nervous system. An advisory group including clinicians, patients and families will assist with standardizing the intervention and with assessing its feasibility and desirability. Results of the pilot study will be used to inform decisions with regard to the design of a larger subsequent trial. By simultaneously exploring effects on delirium, stress, inflammation and pain, it addresses concurrent elements of a destructive critical illness vicious-circle, which sets the stage for multiple organ dysfunction and death. Devising ways to draw on the central and autonomic nervous systems' inflammation- and stress-regulatory properties by a non-pharmacological, patient-centered intervention has the potential to improve outcomes and survival with low risk for side-effects and low cost.