title: Patients' participation in and evaluation of a follow-up program following intensive care.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patients' difficulties following critical illness and the willingness of intensive care units (ICU) to take an expanded responsibility during the recovery period have led to the development of different follow-up programs. The aim of this study was to explore and describe patients' participation in and evaluation of a follow-up program at a nurse-led clinic (NLC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with a length of stay ≥72 h, discharged from the ICU, participated in a follow-up program based on three contacts, as a visit to the NLC, telephone contact, ward visit or as an indirect contact, during a 6-month period. A specially developed database recorded information regarding patients' participation and questionnaires were used to obtain patients' views of the follow-up program.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 96 study patients, 51% visited the NLC once or twice. These patients were younger (P<0.001) and had lower Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (P=0.017) compared with those who did not visit the clinic. The most common reason for not visiting the clinic was not enough strength, chiefly physical. In the evaluation, patients answered that they received advice and information, an opportunity to talk, increased knowledge and re-evaluated memories and experiences from the ICU stay. Patients appreciated the follow-up and expressed gratitude to the competent and obliging staff.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current follow-up program, adjusted to individual patients' conditions and needs in terms of different types of contacts and continuity, was found to be of great value. Effects of the program other than the patient perspective are also relevant to evaluate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, ICU, Kristianstad, Sweden. cecilia.glimeliuspetersson@skane.se
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Glimelius Petersson
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bergbom
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Brodersen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ringdal
mesh_terms: D018806:APACHE; D000368:Aged; D003422:Critical Care; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009726:Nurses; D010358:Patient Participation; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012107:Research Design; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013689:Telephone