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Review
. 2023 Oct 1;29(5):519-525.
doi: 10.1097/MCC.0000000000001075. Epub 2023 Aug 9.

Digital solutions and the future of recovery after critical illness

Louise Rose  1 , Christopher E Cox  2
Affiliations
Review

Digital solutions and the future of recovery after critical illness

Louise Rose et al. Curr Opin Crit Care. .

Abstract

Purpose of review: Digital technologies may address known physical and psychological barriers to recovery experienced by intensive care survivors following hospital discharge and provide solutions to care fragmentation and unmet needs. The review highlights recent examples of digital technologies designed to support recovery of survivors of critically illness.

Recent findings: Despite proliferation of digital technologies supporting health in the community, there are relatively few examples for intensive care survivors. Those we identified included web-based, app-based or telemedicine-informed recovery clinics or pathways offering services, including informational resources, care planning and navigation support, medication reconciliation, and recovery goal setting. Digital interventions supporting psychological recovery included apps providing adaptive coping skills training, mindfulness, and cognitive behavioural therapy. Efficacy data are limited, although feasibility and acceptability have been established for some. Challenges include difficulties identifying participants most likely to benefit and delivery in a format easily accessible to all, with digital exclusion a resultant risk.

Summary: Digital interventions supporting recovery comprise web or app-based recovery clinics or pathways and digital delivery of psychological interventions. Understanding of efficacy is relatively nascent, although several studies demonstrate feasibility and acceptability. Future research is needed but should be mindful of the risk of digital exclusion.

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Conflict of interest statement

L.R. is a co-founder of Life Lines, a philanthropic COVID-19 rapid response project that received charitable donations to enable provision of over 1400 4G enabled Android tablets and a bespoke virtual visiting solution to ICUs across the UK. Major philanthropic contributors to Life Lines include Google, True Colours, and the Gatsby Trust. British Telecom contributed in-kind time and resources to facilitate the supply of 4G-enabled tablets to UK ICUs.

Life Lines also received funding from the Guy's and St Thomas Hospital Foundation Trust for the development and implementation of the ICU digital recovery pathway described in this paper. L.R. has no financial or commercial interests in Life Lines or the ICU digital recovery pathway.

C.C. received grant funding from the National Institutes of Health. He has no other financial or commercial interests.

Figures

Box 1
Box 1
no caption available
FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Screenshots of elements of the digital ICU Recovery Pathway. Reprinted from [15▪].
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Conceptual model for action of adaptive coping skills and mindfulness training interventions.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Screenshots of Blueprint adaptive coping skills training mobile app and workbook.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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    2. An excellent overview of recovering from critical illness.

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