title: What is the relationship between elements of ICU treatment and memories after discharge in adult ICU survivors?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Patients admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) often experience distressing memories during recovery that have been associated with poor psychological and cognitive outcomes. The aim of this literature review was to synthesise the literature reporting on relationships between elements of ICU treatment and memories after discharge in adult ICU survivors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Integrative review methods were used to systematically search, select, extract, appraise and summarise current knowledge from the available research and identify gaps in the literature.
  
  
  METHODS
  The following electronic databases were systematically searched: PubMed, Ovid EMBASE, EBSCOhost CINAHL, PsycINFO and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Additional studies were identified through searches of bibliographies. Original quantitative research articles written in English that were published in peer-review journals were included.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data extracted from studies included authors, study aims, population, sample size and characteristics, methods, ICU treatments, ICU memory definitions, data collection strategies and findings. Study quality assessment was based on elements of the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme using the checklists developed for randomised controlled trials and cohort studies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fourteen articles containing data from 13 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the final analysis. The relatively limited evidence about the association between elements of ICU treatment and memories after ICU discharge suggest that deep sedation, corticoids and administration of glucose 50% due to hypoglycaemia contribute to the development of delusional memories and amnesia of ICU stay.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The body of literature on the relationship between elements of ICU treatment and memories after ICU discharge is small and at its early stages. Larger studies using rigorous study design are needed in order to evaluate the effects of different elements of ICU treatment on the development of memories of the ICU during recovery.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing & Midwifery & NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Nursing (NCREN), Centre for Health Practice Innovation, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Australia; Intensive Care Unit, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Australia; School of Health Sciences, City University London, UK. Electronic address: l.aitken@griffith.edu.au.
authors.forename: Leanne M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Aitken
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing & Midwifery & NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Nursing (NCREN), Centre for Health Practice Innovation, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Australia; Intensive Care Unit, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Australia.
authors.forename: Maria I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Castillo
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing & Midwifery & NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Nursing (NCREN), Centre for Health Practice Innovation, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Australia.
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ullman
authors.affiliation: Division of Nursing, Department of Health Science, Luleå University of Technology, Sweden.
authors.forename: Åsa
authors.initials: Å
authors.lastname: Engström
authors.affiliation: Population Health Sciences, Medical Research Institute, University of Dundee, UK.
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cunningham
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Dundee, UK.
authors.forename: Janice
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rattray
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008568:Memory; D010351:Patient Discharge; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Critical care; Delusion; Evidence based nursing; Memory; Psychological recovery