American journal of critical care : an official publication, American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
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Multicenter Study
Association of Lack of Fear of Dying With New Organ Failure: Results of a Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study.
Patients' anxiety on intensive care unit (ICU) admission is associated with subsequent deterioration. ⋯ Absence of fear of dying is associated with new organ failure within the first 7 days after ICU admission. Fear of dying may protect against subsequent deterioration by mobilizing patients' homeostatic resources. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02355626.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Fasting Versus a Heart-Healthy Diet Before Cardiac Catheterization: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Patients undergoing cardiac catheterization are ordered to take nothing by mouth after midnight before their procedure with no evidence to support this practice. ⋯ Allowing patients to eat before elective cardiac catheterization posed no safety risk and benefited patient satisfaction and overall care. The results of this study may help identify best practice for allowing patients to eat before elective procedures using conscious sedation.
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Implementing music in the intensive care unit has increased in popularity because the environment can be stressful and anxiety inducing for many patients. In hospital settings, therapeutic music can be beneficial for patients' well-being and recovery. Although live music typically involves a face-to-face encounter between the musician and patient, the COVID-19 pandemic has prompted a change to virtual live therapeutic music, using technology to present music in real time (eg, with a tablet computer). ⋯ Therapeutic virtual music was well received and provided tangible benefits to patients. Additional research would provide information on patients' outcomes and differences between live and virtual live music.