Cognition and practice on transitional care during the transfer from intensive care unit to a general ward among health care professionals: A qualitative study

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study is to explore the cognition and practice on transitional care during the transfer from intensive care unit to a general ward among health care professionals in China.

Background: Due to the significant differences in the medical and humanistic environment at home and abroad, the safety of patients during the transmission from intensive care unit to the general ward is often ignored when their conditions become stable. There are few qualitative studies on the cognition and practice on transitional care during the transfer from intensive care unit to the ward among health care professionals in China.

Methods: With a qualitative research design, 20 medical and nursing staff in the neurosurgery intensive care unit and ward were interviewed from May 2021 to August 2021. NVivo 11.0 software was utilized for Colaizzi's (1978) method of data analysis.

Results: Based on data analysis, perceptions of transitional care, the influencing factors for transitional care and the recommendations for improving transitional care were obtained.

Conclusion: To ensure the continuity of care and improve patient safety during the period from intensive care unit to a general ward in China, we should clarify the expectation for the content of intensive care unit transitional care services, establish the transitional nursing team, guide nursing work, standardize the handover mode and process from intensive care unit to the general ward, promote the communication and coordination of health care professionals and improve the transitional nursing security system from the perspective of institutional level.

Implications for nursing management: This study can be used as a guide to help health care professionals provide a reference for the comprehensive development of transitional care services and the formulation of targeted intervention measures during the transfer from intensive care unit to a general ward in China.

Keywords: health care professional; interview; patient transfer; qualitative research; transitional care.