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“Never in my mind to give up!” A qualitative study of long‐term intensive care patients’ inner strength and willpower—Promoting and challenging aspects

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  • Ingeborg Alexandersen
  • Berit Stjern
  • Regina Eide
  • Hege Selnes Haugdahl
  • Tove Engan Paulsby
  • Stine Borgen Lund
  • Gørill Haugan

Abstract

Aims and objectives To explore aspects that promote and challenge long‐term ICU patients’ inner strength and willpower. Background Considerable research has been devoted to ICU patients’ experiences; however, research on long‐term ICU patients is limited. Studies in a health‐promoting perspective focusing on long‐term ICU patients’ inner strength and willpower are scarce. Design A qualitative, hermeneutic‐phenomenological approach, using in‐depth interviews. Methods Seventeen long‐term Norwegian ICU patients were interviewed once, at 6–18 months after ICU discharge. The consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research was used (Data S1). Results The lived experience of the phenomenon “inner strength and willpower” and what promotes and challenges this phenomenon in long‐term ICU patients were represented by four main themes and nine subthemes. Promoting aspects comprised of two main themes and five subthemes: (a) “No doubt about coming back to life” with subthemes; “Strong connectedness to life; feeling alive and present,” “Meaning and purpose; feeling valuable to somebody.” (b) “How to ignite and maintain the spark of life,” with the subthemes: “Practical solutions, coping skills from previous life experiences,” “Provocative and inspiring experiences” and “Vivid dream experiences that ignite the willpower.” Two main categories and four subcategories represented challenging aspects: (a) Exhaustion, weakness and discomfort; subthemes; “Physical challenges” and “Mental discomfort” and (b) “Tiring delusions,” subthemes; “Living in the worst horror movie” and “Feeling trapped.” Conclusion This study expands on previous studies by providing insights about what promotes and challenges long‐term ICU patients’ inner strength and willpower during their recovery trajectory. Relevance to clinical practice Insights into the variety of long‐term ICU patients’ experiences during the recovery trajectory are important for ICU nurses to support and facilitate ICU patients’ inner strength and willpower.

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  • Ingeborg Alexandersen & Berit Stjern & Regina Eide & Hege Selnes Haugdahl & Tove Engan Paulsby & Stine Borgen Lund & Gørill Haugan, 2019. "“Never in my mind to give up!” A qualitative study of long‐term intensive care patients’ inner strength and willpower—Promoting and challenging aspects," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 28(21-22), pages 3991-4003, November.
  • Handle: RePEc:wly:jocnur:v:28:y:2019:i:21-22:p:3991-4003
    DOI: 10.1111/jocn.14980
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Susanne Kean & Lisa G Salisbury & Janice Rattray & Timothy S Walsh & Guro Huby & Pamela Ramsay, 2017. "‘Intensive care unit survivorship’ – a constructivist grounded theory of surviving critical illness," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 26(19-20), pages 3111-3124, October.
    2. Hege S Haugdahl & Regina Eide & Ingeborg Alexandersen & Tove Engan Paulsby & Berit Stjern & Stine Borgen Lund & Gørill Haugan, 2018. "From breaking point to breakthrough during the ICU stay: A qualitative study of family members’ experiences of long‐term intensive care patients’ pathways towards survival," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(19-20), pages 3630-3640, October.
    3. Gørill Haugan, 2014. "Meaning‐in‐life in nursing‐home patients: a valuable approach for enhancing psychological and physical well‐being?," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 23(13-14), pages 1830-1844, July.
    4. Gørill Haugan, 2014. "Meaning‐in‐life in nursing‐home patients: a correlate with physical and emotional symptoms," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 23(7-8), pages 1030-1043, April.
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    1. Kerstin Viglund & Birgitta Olofsson & Berit Lundman & Astrid Norberg & Hugo Lövheim, 2022. "Relationships among inner strength, health and function, well-being, and negative life events in old people: a longitudinal study," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 19(3), pages 545-554, September.

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