Virtual Family Participation in ICU Rounds: a Pilot Study (VR-Family)

Lady Davis Institute

Status: Completed

Conditions: Critical Care; Virtual; Family Engagement

Treatments: Other: Participation in virtual rounds

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05891860

2023-3581

Details and patient eligibility

About

Barriers to family participation in ICU rounds exist at the health care system level (e.g., restriction on visitation, infection control) and the individual level (e.g., caretaker role, illness, disability, inability to miss work). While virtual family participation in ICU rounds may contribute to addressing these barriers, its feasibility, impact, and effectiveness are yet unknown. The primary objective of this study is to assess the feasibility of virtual family participation in adult ICU rounds. The secondary objectives are: to assess the effect size of virtual family participation in ICU rounds on family engagement, satisfaction, and anxiety and depression; and to explore family and physician experiences of family participation in ICU rounds.

This will be a pilot prospective trial of 72 family members at 4 Canadian adult ICUs, with an embedded qualitative study that will sample family members and critical care physicians. The primary outcome will reflect feasibility metrics (i.e., recruitment, uptake, technical, and follow-up). Secondary outcomes include data regarding family engagement, satisfaction, mental health, and perceived experiences of participation in ICU rounds. This study will assess the feasibility of conducting a larger, hypothesis-testing randomized controlled trial to assess virtual family participation in adult ICU rounds.

Enrollment: 84 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• Family member of ICU patient with expected ICU stay > 48 hours (as per treating team)
• Age ≥ 18 years old
• Willing and able to participate in virtual ICU rounds
• Ability to communicate in English or French
• Able: technological capability and understanding to participate virtually in ICU rounds (must have a phone or computer with internet and audio/video capabilities).
• "Family member" is anyone with a biological, legal, or emotional relationship with the patient.

Exclusion criteria

• Intends to participate in in-person rounds (if available and offered at participating site)
• Another family member already participating in the study

Trial design

Primary purpose: Health Services Research

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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84 participants in 1 patient group

Intervention

Experimental group

Description:

Study participants will be present during daily ICU team rounds by secure video conference.

Treatment:

Other: Participation in virtual rounds