The Use of Patient Diaries in an Intensive Care Unit

Many patients experience posttraumatic stress disorder following a stay in intensive care; this can be due to a lack of recall of their stay. Retrospective patient diaries (n = 8) with follow-up have been used to try and help patients' recovery but have been found to be impersonal. Prospective diaries (n= 35) were implemented and trialled with follow-up at 2, 6 and 12 months postdischarge. Patients' and relatives' initial feedback regarding diaries is extremely positive. Benefits included better understanding of the events of the critical illness, helping with more realistic goal setting during the recovery period, improving communication within families through discussion of the diary and providing a source of comfort for the bereaved. More formal audit of these diaries is required and is currently being undertaken.