title: Strange and scary memories of the intensive care unit: a qualitative, longitudinal study inspired by Ricoeur's interpretation theory.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the content of former intensive care unit patients' memories of delusions.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Intensive care unit patients often have strange and frightening experiences during the critical stage of illness. Earlier studies have provided small-sample in-depth descriptions of patient experiences in intensive care unit, but large-scale studies are also needed to inform intensive care unit follow-up.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study had a qualitative design using phenomenological hermeneutic analysis inspired by Ricoeur's interpretive theory. Patients were assessed with Confusion Assessment Method of the Intensive Care Unit for delirium in intensive care unit, and after discharge, memories of delusions were described by 114 of 325 patients in face-to-face (after two weeks) and telephone interviews (after two and six months) using the Intensive Care Unit Memory Tool.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four themes emerged: the ever-present family, dynamic spaces, surviving challenges and constant motion. Memories of delusions were a vivid mix of fact and fiction, demonstrating dynamic shifts in time, place and motion, but not dependent on the presence of delirium assessed by Confusion Assessment Method of the Intensive Care Unit.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Analysis based on Ricoeurian phenomenological hermeneutics provided insights into themes in intensive care unit patients' memories of delusions. More studies are needed to understand the meaning of memories of delusions, the commonality of themes and the association between delusions and delirium after an intensive care unit stay.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Understanding patients' memories of delusions is beneficial to nurses caring for patients that are anxious, upset or agitated. It opens a window to the world of the patient who is unable to communicate due to intubation and general weakness. We recommend the provision of nurse-led intensive care unit follow-up enabling patients to describe and discuss their intensive care unit experiences.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, VIA University College, Aarhus N, Denmark. hesv@via.dk.
authors.forename: Helle
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Svenningsen
authors.affiliation: University of Copenhagen Health & Medical Sciences Rigshospitalet, Trauma Center HOC 3193, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Egerod
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus C, Denmark.
authors.forename: Pia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dreyer
mesh_terms: D003693:Delirium / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D003718:Denmark; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008568:Memory; D008960:Models, Psychological
keywords: delirium; intensive care unit; memories; narratives; nursing; phenomenological hermeneutics