Awareness, Knowledge, and Screening Practices of Post-Post Intensive Care Syndrome by Primary Care Providers

Background: Major advances in critical care medicine over recent decades have increased intensive care unit (ICU) survivorship (Needham, et al., 2012). Sequelae associated with ICU survival are a set of symptoms comprised of mental, cognitive, and physical impairments recognized as Post-Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS) (Needham, et al., 2012). Upon discharge, many ICU survivors resume care with their primary care provider (PCP) though there is little to no research on the role of the PCP in caring for ICU survivors.
Purpose: The purpose of this project was to describe the level of awareness, knowledge, and current screening practices of PICS by PCPs and PCP perceptions of ways to improve collaboration between primary care and critical care regarding PICS.
Methods: This project surveyed PCPs, including Medical Doctors (MD) or Doctors of Osteopathy (DO), Nurse Practitioners (NP), and Physicians’ Assistants (PA) concerning awareness, knowledge, and screening practices of PICS within the primary care center.
Results: Twenty-eight (28.6%) providers responded of whom 20 (71.43%) reported having no familiarity of PICS, eight (28.57%) having some familiarity, and no respondents being very familiar. Providers aged 40 years or below were more likely to be somewhat familiar with PICS than those over the age of 40 (p=0.044) and MDs age 40 or below were more likely to be somewhat familiar with PICS than with those over the age of 40 (p=0.004).
Discussion: Though limited by a small response rate, the findings suggest that a significant knowledge gap exists and needs to be addressed to improve care of ICU survivors in the primary care setting. Perceptions among PCPs about ways to improve collaboration between ICU teams and providers in primary care should be considered when developing strategies to improve awareness and knowledge of PICS.