Key Mechanisms by Which Post-ICU Activities Can Improve In-ICU Care: Results of the International Thrive Collaborative

Objective: Identify the key mechanisms which clinicians perceive improve care in the intensive care unit (ICU), as a result of their involvement in post ICU programs. Methods: Qualitative inquiry via focus groups and interviews with members of the Society of Critical Care Medicine's Thrive collaboratives from over 20 centres in the UK, Australia and US (follow-up clinics and peer support). Framework Analysis was used to synthesize and interpret the data. Results: Five key mechanisms were identified as drivers of improvement back into the ICU: 1) Identifying otherwise unseen targets for ICU quality improvement or education programs - new ideas for quality improvement were generated and greater attention paid to detail in clinical care. 2) Creating a new role for survivors in the ICU - former patients and family members adopted an advocacy or peer volunteer role. 3) Inviting critical care providers to the post-ICU program to educate, sensitize, and motivate them - clinician peers and trainees were invited to attend as a helpful learning strategy to gain insights into post-ICU care requirements. 4) Changing clinician's own understanding of patient experience - there appeared to be a direct individual benefit from working in post-ICU programs. 5) Improving morale and meaningfulness of ICU work - this was achieved by closing the feedback loop to ICU clinicians regarding patient and family outcomes. Conclusions: The follow-up of patients and families in post-ICU care settings is perceived to improve care within the ICU via five key mechanisms. Further testing of whether these mechanisms drive improvements in patient and family-centered care, and whether these programs enhance clinician well-being and ICU culture, is warranted. Funding Statement: K Haines, J McPeake, L Boehm, C Sevin and Tara Quasim are currently receiving funding from SCCM to undertake this work. L Boehm is funded by NIH/NHLBI (K12 HL137943) as is T J Iwashyna (K12 HL138039). Declaration of Interests: : K Haines, J McPeake, L Boehm, C Sevin and Tara Quasim are currently receiving funding from SCCM to undertake this work. L Boehm is funded by NIH/NHLBI (K12 HL137943) as is T J Iwashyna (K12 HL138039). No conflicts of interest declared by other authors. Ethics Approval Statement: The institutional ethics committee of the principal investigator (KH) approved the study (HREC/17/WH/170) and consent was implied through participation.