title: Health-related quality of life and nursing-sensitive outcomes in mechanically ventilated patients in an Intensive Care Unit: a study protocol.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mechanical ventilation (MV) is one of the most utilised techniques in the intensive care unit (ICU), but it can cause sequelae that can negatively influence the patient's health-related quality of life (HRQL). Nursing-sensitive outcomes (NSOs) can also influence the HRQL. Assessing the HRQL of mechanically ventilated patients admitted to an ICU and its relation to nurse-sensitive outcomes will give healthcare professionals with valuable information to improve patient care.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective longitudinal cohort study in which all patients admitted to the ICU at Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron who undergo MV for more than 48 h will be included. The study will last 12 consecutive months. HRQL will be assessed by the completion of the SF-36 and the Saint Georges Respiratory Questionnaire. Pre-admission HRQL assessment will be performed by the main caregiver, and after ICU discharge, the assessment will be performed by the patient him/herself. The same questionnaires will also be completed one year after ICU discharge. Other variables (sociodemographic and those related to reason for ICU admission, ICU length of stay, MV, ICU stressors and NSO) will be included in a multiple regression model to assess their relation to the patient's HRQL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study will show the relationship between the HRQL perceived by patients and their main caregiver, what the HRQL is one year after discharge from ICU, and what the impact of MV, NSO and ICU stressors and other clinical outcomes on the patient's HRQL is. Determining mechanically ventilated patients' HRQL and its relation to NSO and ICU stressors as well as other clinical variables will enable early nursing interventions to try to minimise possible sequelae and improve the patient's welfare.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ClinicalTrials.gov ID:NCT02636660Registration Date: 17th December 2015.
authors: Intensive Care Unit, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors: Alba
authors: A
authors: Riera
authors: Intensive Care Unit, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors: Elisabet
authors: E
authors: Gallart
authors: Intensive Care Unit, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain.
authors: Araceli
authors: A
authors: Vicálvaro
authors: Intensive Care Unit, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors: Montserrat
authors: M
authors: Lolo
authors: Intensive Care Unit, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors: Anabel
authors: A
authors: Solsona
authors: Intensive Care Unit, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Mont
authors: Intensive Care Unit, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors: Jordi
authors: J
authors: Gómez
authors: Intensive Care Unit, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Téllez
authors: Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors: Carmen
authors: C
authors: Fuentelsaz-Gallego
keywords: Critical care; Mechanical ventilation; Nursing; Nursing sensitive outcomes; Quality of life; Stressors