https://www.mdu.se/

mdu.sePublications
Change search
CiteExportLink to record
Permanent link

Direct link
Cite
Citation style
  • apa
  • ieee
  • modern-language-association-8th-edition
  • vancouver
  • Other style
More styles
Language
  • de-DE
  • en-GB
  • en-US
  • fi-FI
  • nn-NO
  • nn-NB
  • sv-SE
  • Other locale
More languages
Output format
  • html
  • text
  • asciidoc
  • rtf
Towards definitions of critical illness and critical care using concept analysis
Kamuzu Univ Hlth Sci, Publ Hlth, Blantyre, Malawi.;Queen Elizabeth Cent Hosp, Anaesthesia & Intens Care, Blantyre, Malawi..
Karolinska Inst, Global Publ Hlth, Stockholm, Sweden.;Uppsala Univ, Ctr Clin Res Sormland, Eskilstuna, Sweden.;Nyköping Hosp, Internal Med, Nyköping, Sweden..
Karolinska Inst, Global Publ Hlth, Stockholm, Sweden.;Karolinska Univ Hosp, Periopei Ative Med & Intens Care, Stockholm, Sweden..
Södertälje Hosp, Internal Med, Stockholm, Sweden..
Show others and affiliations
2022 (English)In: BMJ Open, E-ISSN 2044-6055, Vol. 12, no 9, article id e060972Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Objective As 'critical illness' and 'critical care' lack consensus definitions, this study aimed to explore how the concepts' are used, describe their defining attributes, and propose potential definitions. Design and methods We used the Walker and Avant approach to concept analysis. The uses and definitions of the concepts were identified through a scoping review of the literature and an online survey of 114 global clinical experts. We used the Arksey and O'Malley framework for scoping reviews and searched in PubMed and Web of Science with a strategy including terms around critical illness/care and definitions/etymologies limited to publications in English between 1 January 2008 and 1 January 2020. The experts were selected through purposive sampling and snowballing, with 36.8% in Africa, 25.4% in Europe, 22.8% in North America, 10.5% in Asia, 2.6% in South America and 1.8% in Australia. They worked with anaesthesia or intensive care 59.1%, emergency care 15.8%, medicine 9.5%, paediatrics 5.5%, surgery 4.7%, obstetrics and gynaecology 1.6% and other specialties 3.9%. Through content analysis of the data, we extracted codes, categories and themes to determine the concepts' defining attributes and we proposed potential definitions. To assist understanding, we developed model, related and contrary cases concerning the concepts, we identified antecedents and consequences to the concepts, and defined empirical referents. Results Nine and 13 articles were included in the scoping reviews of critical illness and critical care, respectively. A total of 48 codes, 14 categories and 4 themes were identified in the uses and definitions of critical illness and 60 codes, 13 categories and 5 themes for critical care. The defining attributes of critical illness were a high risk of imminent death; vital organ dysfunction; requirement for care to avoid death; and potential reversibility. The defining attributes of critical care were the identification, monitoring and treatment of critical illness; vital organ support; initial and sustained care; any care of critical illness; and specialised human and physical resources. The defining attributes led to our proposed definitions of critical illness as, 'a state of ill health with vital organ dysfunction, a high risk of imminent death if care is not provided and the potential for reversibility', and of critical care as, 'the identification, monitoring and treatment of patients with critical illness through the initial and sustained support of vital organ functions.' Conclusion The concepts critical illness and critical care lack consensus definitions and have varied uses. Through concept analysis of uses and definitions in the literature and among experts, we have identified the defining attributes of the concepts and proposed definitions that could aid clinical practice, research and policy-making.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
BMJ PUBLISHING GROUP , 2022. Vol. 12, no 9, article id e060972
Keywords [en]
adult intensive & critical care, accident & emergency medicine, health services administration & management
National Category
Medical and Health Sciences
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:mdh:diva-60039DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-060972ISI: 000852862800043Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-85138991606OAI: oai:DiVA.org:mdh-60039DiVA, id: diva2:1703636
Available from: 2022-10-14 Created: 2022-10-14 Last updated: 2023-08-28Bibliographically approved

Open Access in DiVA

No full text in DiVA

Other links

Publisher's full textScopus

Authority records

Holmberg, Mats

Search in DiVA

By author/editor
Holmberg, Mats
By organisation
Health and Welfare
In the same journal
BMJ Open
Medical and Health Sciences

Search outside of DiVA

GoogleGoogle Scholar

doi
urn-nbn

Altmetric score

doi
urn-nbn
Total: 27 hits
CiteExportLink to record
Permanent link

Direct link
Cite
Citation style
  • apa
  • ieee
  • modern-language-association-8th-edition
  • vancouver
  • Other style
More styles
Language
  • de-DE
  • en-GB
  • en-US
  • fi-FI
  • nn-NO
  • nn-NB
  • sv-SE
  • Other locale
More languages
Output format
  • html
  • text
  • asciidoc
  • rtf