Humanizing the Intensive Care Unit: Perspectives of Patients and Families on the Get to Know Me Board

Sumera R Ahmad; Lori Rhudy; Lindsay A Fogelson; Allison M LeMahieu; Amelia K Barwise; Ognjen Gajic; Lioudmila V Karnatovskaia

doi:10.1177/23743735231201228

Humanizing the Intensive Care Unit: Perspectives of Patients and Families on the Get to Know Me Board

J Patient Exp. 2023 Sep 18:10:23743735231201228. doi: 10.1177/23743735231201228. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Sumera R Ahmad¹, Lori Rhudy², Lindsay A Fogelson³, Allison M LeMahieu⁴, Amelia K Barwise⁵, Ognjen Gajic¹, Lioudmila V Karnatovskaia¹

Affiliations

¹ Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
² Department of Graduate Nursing, Winona State University, Rochester, MN, USA.
³ Anesthesia and Critical Care Research Unit, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
⁴ Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
⁵ Department of Bioethics Research Program, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.

Abstract

In this qualitative study, we explored perspectives of patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) and their families on the Get to Know Me board (GTKMB). Of the 46 patients approached, 38 consented to participate. Of the 66 family members approached, 60 consented to participate. Most patients (26, 89%) and family members (52, 99%) expressed that GTKMB was important in recognizing patient's humanity. Most patients (20, 68%) and families (39, 74%) said that it helped to build a better relationship with the provider team. 60% of patients and families commented that the GTKMB was used as a platform by providers to interact with them. Up to 45 (85%) of the family members supported specific contents of the GTKMB. In structured interviews (11 patients, 7 family members), participants additionally commented on ways providers used the GTKMB to communicate, support patient's personhood, and on caveats in interacting with GTKMB. Critically ill patients and families found the GTKMB helpful in preserving personhood of patient, fostering communication, and building relationships with clinicians.

Keywords: Humanization; anonymity; family centered care; get to know me board; intensive care unit; patient centered care.