title: Caregiver strain following critical care discharge: An exploratory evaluation.
abstract: The objective of this exploratory evaluation was to understand the impact of critical care survivorship on caregivers.
  
  
  
  Family members who attended a quality improvement initiative within our critical care unit were asked to complete 4 questionnaires.
  
  
  
  The setting for this study was a 20-bedded mixed critical care unit in a large teaching hospital in Scotland. Data were collected as a part of an evaluation of a quality improvement initiative.
  
  
  
  Thirty-six carers completed the questionnaire set.
  
  
  
  A total of 53% of caregivers suffered significant strain. Poor quality of life in the patient was significantly associated with higher caregiver strain (P= .006). Anxiety was present in 69% of caregivers. Depression was present in 56% of caregivers, with a significant association between carer strain and depression (P< .001). Those caregivers who were defined as being strained also had significantly higher Insomnia Severity Index scores than those without carers strain (P= .007).
  
  
  
  This evaluation has demonstrated that there is a significant burden for caregivers of critical care survivors. Furthermore, they reported high levels of posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, and insomnia. Future work on rehabilitation from critical care should focus on the inclusion of caregivers.
authors.affiliation: Glasgow Royal Infirmary, 84 Castle St, Glasgow, G4 0SF, United Kingdom; University of Glasgow, School of Medicine, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, New Lister Bldg, 10-16 Alexandra Parade, Glasgow, G31 2ER, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McPeake
authors.affiliation: Glasgow Royal Infirmary, 84 Castle St, Glasgow, G4 0SF, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Devine
authors.affiliation: Glasgow Royal Infirmary, 84 Castle St, Glasgow, G4 0SF, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: MacTavish
authors.affiliation: University of the West of Scotland, Department of Psychology, Paisley Campus, Paisley, Scotland, PA1-2BE, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Leanne
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fleming
authors.affiliation: Glasgow Royal Infirmary, 84 Castle St, Glasgow, G4 0SF, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Crawford
authors.affiliation: Glasgow Royal Infirmary, 84 Castle St, Glasgow, G4 0SF, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Struthers
authors.affiliation: Glasgow Royal Infirmary, 84 Castle St, Glasgow, G4 0SF, United Kingdom; University of Glasgow, School of Medicine, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, New Lister Bldg, 10-16 Alexandra Parade, Glasgow, G31 2ER, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kinsella
authors.affiliation: Glasgow Royal Infirmary, 84 Castle St, Glasgow, G4 0SF, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Malcolm
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Daniel
authors.affiliation: Glasgow Royal Infirmary, 84 Castle St, Glasgow, G4 0SF, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.affiliation: Glasgow Royal Infirmary, 84 Castle St, Glasgow, G4 0SF, United Kingdom; University of Glasgow, School of Medicine, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, New Lister Bldg, 10-16 Alexandra Parade, Glasgow, G31 2ER, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Tara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Quasim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003422:Critical Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010351:Patient Discharge; D058996:Quality Improvement; D011788:Quality of Life; D012606:Scotland / Q000453:epidemiology; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Caregivers; Family members; Intensive care; Quality of life