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'Never in my mind to give up!' A qualitative study of long-term intensive care patients' inner strength and willpower - promoting and challenging aspects.
Journal of Clinical Nursing 2019 June 27
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To explore aspects that promote and challenge long-term ICU patients' inner strength and willpower.
BACKGROUND: Considerable research has been devoted to ICU patients' experiences, however research on long-term ICU patients is limited. Studies in a health promoting perspective focusing on long-term ICU patients' inner strength and willpower are scarce.
DESIGN: A qualitative, hermeneutic-phenomenological approach, using in-depth interviews.
METHODS: Seventeen long-term Norwegian ICU patients were interviewed once, at six to 18 months after ICU discharge. The consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research was used (Supplementary File 1).
RESULTS: The lived experience of the phenomenon 'inner strength and willpower' and what promotes and challenges this phenomenon in long-term ICU patients were represented by four main themes and nine sub-themes. Promoting aspects comprised of two main themes and five sub-themes: (1)'No doubt about coming back to life' with sub-themes; 'Strong connectedness to life; feeling alive and present', 'Meaning and purpose; feeling valuable to somebody'. (2)'How to ignite and maintain the spark of life', with the sub-themes: 'Practical solutions, coping skills from previous life experiences', 'Provocative and inspiring experiences', and 'Vivid dream experiences that ignite the willpower'. Two main categories and four sub-categories represented challenging aspects,: (1) Exhaustion, weakness, and discomfort; sub-themes; 'Physical challenges' and 'Mental discomfort', and (2)'Tiring delusions', sub-themes; 'Living in the worst horror movie', and 'Feeling trapped'.
CONCLUSION: This study expands on previous studies by providing insights about what promotes and challenges long-term ICU patients' inner strength and willpower during their recovery trajectory. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
BACKGROUND: Considerable research has been devoted to ICU patients' experiences, however research on long-term ICU patients is limited. Studies in a health promoting perspective focusing on long-term ICU patients' inner strength and willpower are scarce.
DESIGN: A qualitative, hermeneutic-phenomenological approach, using in-depth interviews.
METHODS: Seventeen long-term Norwegian ICU patients were interviewed once, at six to 18 months after ICU discharge. The consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research was used (Supplementary File 1).
RESULTS: The lived experience of the phenomenon 'inner strength and willpower' and what promotes and challenges this phenomenon in long-term ICU patients were represented by four main themes and nine sub-themes. Promoting aspects comprised of two main themes and five sub-themes: (1)'No doubt about coming back to life' with sub-themes; 'Strong connectedness to life; feeling alive and present', 'Meaning and purpose; feeling valuable to somebody'. (2)'How to ignite and maintain the spark of life', with the sub-themes: 'Practical solutions, coping skills from previous life experiences', 'Provocative and inspiring experiences', and 'Vivid dream experiences that ignite the willpower'. Two main categories and four sub-categories represented challenging aspects,: (1) Exhaustion, weakness, and discomfort; sub-themes; 'Physical challenges' and 'Mental discomfort', and (2)'Tiring delusions', sub-themes; 'Living in the worst horror movie', and 'Feeling trapped'.
CONCLUSION: This study expands on previous studies by providing insights about what promotes and challenges long-term ICU patients' inner strength and willpower during their recovery trajectory. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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