One of Us: experiences and challenges faced by staff members in german-speaking intensive care units caring for patients who are healthcare professionals themselves.

One of Us: experiences and challenges faced by staff members in german-speaking intensive care units caring for patients who are healthcare professionals themselves. - One of Us

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Observational

Source

DRKS

Registry ID

DRKS00039787

Enrollment

200

Registered

2026-05-15

Start date

2026-06-01

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2026-06-01

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Experiences of staff working in German-speaking intensive care units with patients who are themselves healthcare professionals.

Interventions

Group 1: Nurses, physicians, and other healthcare professionals who (formerly) worked in intensive care units will be surveyed once via an online questionnaire. This anonymous online survey will be co

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Age

18 Years to No maximum

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: Nurses, physicians and allied healthcare personnel practicing at the ICU

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: Trainees and interns are excluded, as they are still in the process of gaining qualifications and are not integrated into the team and care structures on a long-term basis.

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
The primary objective of the “One of Us” study is to gather information on the experiences and perceived challenges faced by staff in intensive care units in Germany when caring for patients who are themselves healthcare workers. The study focuses in particular on how this unique dynamic between colleague and patient influences care, decision-making, communication, and the emotional strain on caregivers. Data collection will be conducted as a one-time cross-sectional survey using an anonymous online questionnaire.	—

Measure

Time frame

The primary objective of the “One of Us” study is to gather information on the experiences and perceived challenges faced by staff in intensive care units in Germany when caring for patients who are themselves healthcare workers. The study focuses in particular on how this unique dynamic between colleague and patient influences care, decision-making, communication, and the emotional strain on caregivers. Data collection will be conducted as a one-time cross-sectional survey using an anonymous online questionnaire.

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Secondary

Measure	Time frame
The secondary objectives of the study are: • to describe how often intensive care unit staff care for patients who are themselves healthcare professionals , • to analyze perceived burdens, stressors, and support needs associated with caring for healthcare professionals as patients, • to examine possible differences in experiences depending on o professional group (nurse, physician, therapist, other) o professional experience (< 5 years vs. = 5 years), o gender (m/f/d) o hospital type (university, primary and general care, faith-based hospital) o Intensive care unit type (medical, surgical, mixed, others) • the exploration of the extent to which the care of healthcare professionals as patients leads to changes in their own nursing or medical practice, • the identification of areas where structural, organizational, or educational measures to support employees appear appropriate.	—

Measure

Time frame

The secondary objectives of the study are: • to describe how often intensive care unit staff care for patients who are themselves healthcare professionals , • to analyze perceived burdens, stressors, and support needs associated with caring for healthcare professionals as patients, • to examine possible differences in experiences depending on o professional group (nurse, physician, therapist, other) o professional experience (< 5 years vs. = 5 years), o gender (m/f/d) o hospital type (university, primary and general care, faith-based hospital) o Intensive care unit type (medical, surgical, mixed, others) • the exploration of the extent to which the care of healthcare professionals as patients leads to changes in their own nursing or medical practice, • the identification of areas where structural, organizational, or educational measures to support employees appear appropriate.

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Countries

Austria, Germany, Luxembourg, Switzerland

Contacts

Public ContactPeter Nydahl

GKP BScN MScN Pflegewissenschaft und -entwicklung Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein

Peter.Nydahl@uksh.de+49431 500 13812

Outcome results

None listed

Source: DRKS (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Jun 11, 2026