The Austrian ICU survey: A questionnaire-based evaluation of intensive care medicine in Austria
BACKGROUND: While structures of intensive care medicine in Austria are well defined, data on organisational and medical practice in intensive care units (ICUs) have not been systematically evaluated. METHODS: In this explorative survey, organisational and medical details of ICUs in Austria were coll...
Autores principales: | , , , , , |
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Formato: | Online Artículo Texto |
Lenguaje: | English |
Publicado: |
Springer Vienna
2022
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Materias: | |
Acceso en línea: | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8792524/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/35084589 http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00508-021-02002-x |
Sumario: | BACKGROUND: While structures of intensive care medicine in Austria are well defined, data on organisational and medical practice in intensive care units (ICUs) have not been systematically evaluated. METHODS: In this explorative survey, organisational and medical details of ICUs in Austria were collected using an online questionnaire consisting of 147 questions. RESULTS: Out of 249 registered ICUs 73 (29.3%) responded, 60 were adult, 10 pediatric/neonatal ICUs and 19, 25 and 16 ICUs were located in level I, II and III hospitals, respectively. Of the respondents 89% reported that the ICU director was board-certified in intensive care medicine. Consultants were constantly present in 78% of ICUs during routine working hours and in 45% during nights and weekends. The nurse:bed ratio varied between 1:1 and 1:2 in 74% during day shifts and 60% during night shifts. Routine physiotherapist rounds were reported to take place daily except weekends in 67% of ICUs. Common monitoring techniques were reported to be in routine or occasional use in 85% and 83% of ICUs, respectively. The majority of ICUs provided daily visiting hours ranging between 2–12 h. Waiting rooms for relatives were available in 66% and an electronic documentation system in 66% of ICUs. Written protocols were available in 70% of ICUs. CONCLUSION: The Austrian ICU survey suggests that ICUs in Austria are clearly structured, well-organized and well-equipped and have a high nurse:bed ratio. In view of the relatively low return rate we cannot exclude that a selection bias has led to overestimation of the survey findings. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version of this article (10.1007/s00508-021-02002-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. |
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