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Impact of a Communication Strategy in the Prevention of Depressive Symptoms in Patients with Covid-19

Impact of an Early and Comprehensive Communication Strategy in the Prevention of Depressive Symptoms in Patients with Severe Covid-19, Their Families and Health Personnel

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05035563
Enrollment
350
Registered
2021-09-05
Start date
2021-06-01
Completion date
2022-07-01
Last updated
2025-01-13

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

Conditions

Covid19, Critical Illness, Mechanical Ventilation

Keywords

COVID-19, Depression post-ICU, Non-pharmacological intervention, Communication strategy

Brief summary

The purpose of this study is to compare the effect of an early and integral communication strategy (EICS) versus standard care, on the rate of depressive symptoms at 3 months after discharge from the ICU, in patients with severe Covid-19, their family members and health personnel. Evaluating the rate of depressive symptoms at 3 months after discharge from the ICU, with a) Hospital Anxiety and Depression, b) Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist (S)

Detailed description

We designed a pre-post intervention study, the groups were non-randomly allocated. The study is implementation in 10 Chilean hospitals, admitting 350 patients. Pre-intervention: The practices of each ICU will be maintained, until the moment that according to randomization corresponds the beginning of the intervention, in each center. Post-intervention: EICS to facilitate communication between the family, patient and health team, through written material, via the web (tablet and webmaster) and by telephone.

Interventions

BEHAVIORALIntervention. Early and integral communication strategy (EICS)

This intervention will be implemented in patients since they are hospitalized in the ICU where is expected: * Facilitate contact and communication between patients, families and the health team. * Respond to the communication needs of family members. * Reduce equipment overload and facilitate communication with families and patients, providing tools and timely support. * Build a positive and trusting relationship of relatives and patients with health teams. The intervention considers the following actions: 1. \- Training in communication to the health team 2. \- Written material 3. \- Family website 4. \- Standardized and daily telephone information 5. \- Health Team Support Strategy 6. \- Weekly multidisciplinary virtual meeting with the family 7. \- ICU diaries for family members

Sponsors

University of Chile
CollaboratorOTHER
Universidad de La Frontera
CollaboratorOTHER
Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
SEQUENTIAL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)

Intervention model description

Pre-intervention: The practices of each ICU will be maintained, until the moment that according to randomization corresponds to the beginning of the intervention, in each center Post-intervention: Integral and early strategy to facilitate communication between the family, patient and health team. For this it will be implemented written material, via the web (tablet and webmaster) and by telephone. It also includes strategies to support health teams, weekly multidisciplinary virtual meetings with the family, ICU diaries for family members.

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Adults\> 18 years old * Admitted to the ICU * Requiring Mechanical Ventilation\> 12 hrs due to COVID-19

Exclusion criteria

* Patients with therapeutic proportionality is defined early * Patients with communication limitations (they do not speak Spanish) are excluded.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Rate of depressive symptomsThird month post-discharge from ICUThe rate of depressive symptoms after discharge from the ICU will be evaluated in patients with severe Covid-19, their relatives and health personnel with the instrument HADS (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale)

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Functional independence post-ICUThird month post-discharge from ICUBarthel will be used in patients, the score are ordered: 0-20 suggests total dependence, 21-60 severe dependence, 61-90 moderate dependence and 91-99 slight dependence, 100 independence
Functionality Status post-ICUThird month post-discharge from ICUPost-COVID-19 Functional Status (PCFS) will be used in patients, the score are : 0 = No functional limitations, 1=Negligible functional limitations, 2=Slight functional limitations, 3=Moderate functional limitations,4=Severe functional limitations, 5=death
Post traumatic stress post-ICUThird month post-discharge from ICUThis mental health condition will be evaluated in patients, family members and the health team, with the instrument Impact of Event Scale Revised (IES-R). Score Interpretation: 24-32: PTSD is a clinical concern, 33-38: This represents the best cutoff for a probable diagnosis of PTSD, 39 and above: This is high enough to suppress your immune system's functioning
Cognition status post-ICUThird month post-discharge from ICUMOCA blind instrument will be applied to patients. The total possible score is 22 points; a score of 18 or above is considered normal
Risk factors of depressive symptomsThird month post-discharge from ICUIdentify risk factors associated with depressive symptoms at 3 months post ICU in patients with severe Covid-19, their relatives and health team. Considering physical health, mental health and sociodemographic factors. To measure depressive symptoms will be used Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), total scores for depression range from 0 to 21, categorized as: normal (0-7), mild (8-10), moderate (11-14) or severe (15-21)
ICU memories post ICUThird month post-discharge from ICUICU Memory Tool (ICUMT) will be applied to patients.In ICUMT, memories are categorized in subscales of factual memories, memories of feelings, and memories of delusion
Anxiety post ICUThird month post-discharge from ICUThis mental health condition will be evaluated in patients, family members and the health team, with the instrument HADS total scores for anxiety range from 0 to 21, categorized as: normal (0-7), mild (8-10), moderate (11-14) or severe (15-21)
Rate of depressive symptomsTwelfth month post-discharge from ICUThe rate of depressive symptoms after discharge from the ICU will be evaluated in patients with severe Covid-19, their relatives and health personnel with the instrument HADS (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale)
Quality of life post ICUThird month post-discharge from ICUEuro Qol (EQ-5D) will be applied to patients. An EQ-5D summary index is derived by applying a formula that essentially attaches values (weights) to each of the levels in each dimension. The index can be calculated by deducting the appropriate weights from 1, the value for full health

Countries

Chile

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026