Relatives of patients in situation of withholding and withdrawing life-sustaining therapies often show post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (60%)\[1\]. This number is even greater when family members are active in this decision (81%) or when communication is not optimal between medical team and family members. There are several ways to assist families of patients in intensive care units \[2\], amongst them the use of a written document to explain the environment, therapies and possible outcomes. Here the investigators want to test the impact of a written document in the context of end-of-life conference in intensive care units. Specifically, this research addresses wether such written support could decrease 3-months post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression exhibited by the closest family member or the patient representative.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
74
The document describes the law and the role of family members and medical team in the decision.
Anesthesiology and Critical Care Depratment, Grenoble University Hospital
Grenoble, France
Rate of PTSD
PTSD is assessed with Impact Event Scale (IES) on the family representative
Time frame: 3 months
Rate of depression
Depression is assessed with Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HADS) on the family representative
Time frame: 3 months
Rate of anxiety
Anxiety is assessed with Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HADS) on the family representative
Time frame: 3 months
Mean level of HADS (anxiety and depression subscales)
Time frame: 3 months
Mean level of IES
Time frame: 3 months
Length of the processus from decision to withhold and withdraw life-sustaining therapies to intensive care unit (ICU) discharge
Time frame: An average of 6 days
Respectfulness of the law regarding withholding and withdrawing life-sustaining therapies
Time frame: An average of 6 days
Rate of decision to withhold and withdraw life-sustaining therapies in different intensive care units from the hospital
Time frame: ICU discharge (an average of 3 weeks)
Medical Doctor satisfaction with the processus
Time frame: ICU discharge (an average of 3 weeks)
Description of the processus
Time frame: ICU discharge (an average of 3 weeks)
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