Commentary on: Stanley S, Higginbotham K, Finucane A, Nwosu AC. A grounded theory study exploring palliative care healthcare professionals’ experiences of managing digital legacy as part of advance care planning for people receiving palliative care. Palliat Med. 2023 Oct;37(9):1424–1433. doi: 10.1177/02692163231194198. Epub 2023 Aug 23.
Digital legacy could be incorporated into advance care planning policies in practice, with explicit inclusion in advance care planning documents. Further research is required to explore the diverse facets of digital legacies within various patient populations and cultural backgrounds.
The rapid growth of technology, including increased internet access and smartphone usage, has made digital legacy management an important aspect of end-of-life care. Digital legacy refers to the digital assets and online presence that individuals leave behind after they pass away.
Commentary on: Murooka Y, Sasabuchi Y, Takazawa T, Matsui H, Yasunaga H, Saito S. Long-Term Prognosis Following Early Rehabilitation in the ICU: A Retrospective Cohort Study. Crit Care Med. 2023 Mar 29. doi: 10.1097/CCM.0000000000005862. Epub ahead of print.
Rehabilitation programmes if introduced early after admissions to intensive care unit could be beneficial to patients and healthcare systems. Prospective studies are needed to confirm the long-term impacts of early introduction of rehabilitation programmes on healthcare outcomes in terms of, quality of life and physical functions, the optimal timing, duration, and intensity of rehabilitation.
Early rehabilitation is a promising treatment for postintensive care syndrome. Studies have demonstrated the benefits of rehabilitation, such as early exercise and mobilisation, which improve short-term physical and functional outcomes and reduce intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital stay durations for critically ill patients.