Patients' and relatives' experiences of cognitive impairment following an intensive care unit admission: A qualitative study

Background: Cognitive impairment poses a significant challenge following critical illness in the intensive care unit. A knowledge gap exists concerning how patients experience cognitive impairments. Objectives: The aim was to explore patients' and relatives' experiences of patients' cognitive impairment due to critical illness following an intensive care unit admission. Methods: A qualitative multicentre study was conducted in Denmark with 3- and 6-month follow-ups using single and dyadic interviews. A phenomenological hermeneutic approach was adopted using a Ricoeur-inspired textual in-depth analysis method. The Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research checklist was used. Results: Three themes emerged from interviews with 18 patients and 14 relatives: 'It feels like living in a parallel world', 'Getting back to a normal everyday life with a vulnerable self', and 'Managing everyday life using self-invented strategies'. Patients used self-invented strategies to manage their vulnerability and newly acquired cognitive impairments when no help or support was provided specifically targeting their cognitive impairments. Not being as cognitively capable as they previously had been turned their lives upside down. Losing control and not being themselves made them vulnerable. Patients did not want to burden others. However, support from relatives was invaluable in their recovery and rehabilitation. Conclusions: Patients experienced multiple cognitive impairments affecting their adaption to everyday life. They strove to overcome their vulnerability using a variety of self-invented strategies and activities.