Recovery After Critical Illness: A Meta‐Ethnography of Patient, Family and Staff Perspectives

ABSTRACT

Aim

To synthesise primary qualitative studies reporting experiences of post-hospital recovery for critical care survivors, their family and the healthcare professionals supporting them with a particular focus on physical impairment.

Design

The review was conducted through a meta-ethnography using the seven stages of Noblit and Hare.

Methods

Qualitative studies or mixed-method studies which included qualitative research were included if they were based on the phenomenon of interest. Study quality was assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme checklist and confidence in the findings with the GRADE CERQual framework.

Data Sources

Five electronic databases (PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, AMED and PEDro) were searched from inception to February 2022 and updated in November 2024. Grey literature for primary qualitative studies was also searched.

Results

A total of 26,249 studies were initially screened, and 38 eligible studies were analysed. Four themes were distilled describing the experiences of critical care survivors, their family members and staff involved in their care: ‘I survived, but I didn't thrive’, ‘Healthcare was there to save my life, but not for my long-term recovery’, ‘I am a burden on my family, and they feel the weight of carrying me’ and ‘My body still doesn't work like it used to’.

Conclusion

This meta-ethnography is unique in bringing together the experiences of patients recovering from critical illness, their families, and the staff who support them after hospital discharge. Ongoing diverse physical impairments prevented patients from thriving, significantly impacting family members. All groups clearly identified unmet rehabilitation needs following critical illness.