ICU Patients

The objectives of this clinical trial are to explore the feasibility of the eye-tracking communication tool in alleviating communication barriers among non-verbal ICU patients. It will also preliminarily investigate the effectiveness of this tool in facilitating communication for these patients. Researchers will compare the eye-tracking communication tool with conventional techniques (such as body language, writing boards, etc.) to observe the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of the eye-tracking communication tool in alleviating communication barriers. Participants will use an eye-tracking communication tool for augmentative communication for 2 consecutive days.

Admission of a loved one to the intensive care unit (ICU) is a highly stressful experience for family members and caregivers. Many caregivers report increased levels of anxiety, stress, and depressive symptoms, often due to uncertainty about the patient's condition and difficulties in understanding medical information. Improving communication and providing clear, structured information may help reduce this psychological burden. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of a nurse-led educational intervention called "Nurses for Family" (N4F), designed to support caregivers of ICU patients. The study will include adult caregivers (aged 18 years or older) of patients admitted to the ICU for more than 24 hours. Participants must provide informed consent and be able to complete questionnaires independently. A total of 20 participants will be enrolled and allocated to one of two groups: an intervention group (receiving nurse-led educational support) or a control group (receiving standard care). Data will be collected at two time points during the ICU stay. At baseline (24-48 hours after ICU admission), participants will complete the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), which measures symptoms of anxiety and depression. At follow-up (7 days later), participants will complete the HADS again, along with the Family Satisfaction in the ICU (FSICU-24) questionnaire. Feasibility will be assessed based on recruitment and retention rates, adherence to the study protocol, and completeness of data collection. Acceptability will be evaluated through interviews conducted with participants from the control group. This pilot study is expected to determine whether the N4F intervention is feasible and acceptable in a clinical setting and to provide preliminary evidence regarding its potential to reduce psychological distress and improve satisfaction among caregivers of ICU patients.

The objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a modified continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) protocol in maintaining electrolyte balance in adult patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). The study assesses whether the use of continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration (CVVHDF) with post-filter replacement under citrate anticoagulation reduces electrolyte losses and the need for electrolyte supplementation compared with standard dialytic CRRT. Participants receiving standard CRRT will be compared with those treated with the modified protocol. The duration of participation corresponds to the period during which CRRT is required. Data collection will cease once CRRT is discontinued.

The goal of this interventional clinical trial is to evaluate whether the implementation of an evidence-based, context-adapted clinical nutrition practice guideline can improve clinical nutrition management in surgical intensive care units (ICUs) in China. The guideline is selected based on the best available evidence from existing surgical and critical care nutrition guidelines, adapted to the Chinese healthcare context, and implemented using an i-PARIHS-guided translation strategy. The trial involves ICU healthcare professionals working in surgical ICUs of tertiary general hospitals, while assessing nutrition-related clinical outcomes among surgical critically ill patients. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does guideline implementation improve ICU healthcare professionals' adherence to recommended clinical nutrition practice guidelines? Does the implementation of the clinical nutrition practice guideline improve the proportion of surgical critically ill patients who achieve recommended energy and protein intake targets during ICU stay? Researchers will compare outcomes before and after guideline implementation to determine whether the i-PARIHS-guided guideline translation improves nutrition management processes, healthcare professional performance, and patient-related clinical outcomes. Participants will: Complete baseline and post-implementation assessments related to clinical nutrition knowledge, attitudes, and practices. Participate in guideline-based education, training, and implementation activities guided by the i-PARIHS framework. Apply the adapted clinical nutrition practice guideline during routine clinical care in surgical ICUs. Be evaluated through on-site audits, questionnaires, and clinical data collection during the implementation process.

This research project aims to study the effect of optimal and individualised nutrition to patients with critical illness during the intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital admission, and until six months after admission. The investigators want to describe and compare the usual care with a dietitian-tailored nutrition care. The hypothesis is that dietitian-tailored nutrition care will result in a higher mean energy intake compared to usual care.

This is a prospective randomized clinical trial aiming to compare the success rate, complications, and insertion time between ultrasound-guided brachiocephalic vein (BCV) and internal jugular vein (IJV) cannulation in mechanically ventilated patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). The goal is to determine whether BCV access offers a safer or more effective alternative in critically ill patients requiring central venous catheter placement.