title: A planned admission protocol application in intensive care units.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The process of admission to an ICU may have a negative impact on a patient's physiological parameters and comfort.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effect of providing a patient admission protocol on patients' comfort and physiological parameters prior to admission to the intensive care unit (ICU).
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized, controlled experimental study.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study included 100 (50 control, 50 experimental) patients who experienced planned admissions to the ICU of a University Hospital. Standard forms were used to record patient information, evaluations and comfort. Data were collected from patients prior to, during and 24 h after admission to the ICU and 24 h after being transferred. The experimental group was admitted to the ICU using the patient admission protocol and the control group underwent routine admittance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant difference between the groups regarding the individual characteristics, physiology and comfort prior to, during or 24 h after admission to the ICU (p > 0·05). However, 24 h after being transferred, the experimental group's comfort was significantly higher than that of the control group (p < 0·01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of the patient admission protocol does not affect the physiological parameters of patients; however, it does raise the comfort level of patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The patient admission protocol specific to the institution (in this context, a unit introductory booklet) should be developed in ICUs. We suggest that admission to the ICU should be carried out in accordance with this protocol.
authors.affiliation: Health School, Nutrition and Dietetics Department, Amasya University, Amasya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Banu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Terzi
authors.affiliation: Health Sciences Faculty, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nurten
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kaya
mesh_terms: D018806:APACHE; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003422:Critical Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007902:Length of Stay; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000592:standards*; D000070659:Patient Comfort; D011379:Prognosis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
keywords: Comfort; Intensive care units; Nursing care; Patient admission; Physiological parameters