Experiences of nurses with an innovative digital diary intervention in the intensive care unit: A qualitative exploration

Introduction Diaries have been used regularly in various intensive care units (ICUs) in international settings. Hard copy diaries written by relatives became impractical during the COVID-19 pandemic due to ICU visiting restrictions and infection control considerations. The implementation of a web based application, named the “Post-ICU” diary, offered relatives the ability to collaboratively write in a digital diary, to easily upload photos, video and audio clips and to feel engaged with the patient at a safe distance. In addition it allowed nurses to easily provide up-to-date information. The aim of this pilot study was to explore the experiences of ICU nurses with the implementation process and application of the Post-ICU diary. Methods A multicentre qualitative design with focus group interviews was used with ICU nurses in November 2020. Interview data were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim, and then a thematic analysis was performed to categorize the data. Results Participants from three hospitals (n = 14), 57% of whom were women, with a mean age of 40.6 years, described their experiences with the Post-ICU diary. The following themes emerged: implementation process, COVID-19, integration, and motivation. The results showed that ICU nurses perceived the Post-ICU diary to be applicable in daily care and endorsed the added value of the digital Post-ICU diary as a new opportunity to improve interhuman connectedness. However, the nurses also experienced barriers such as non-user-friendly access, lack of time and hesitance to write short messages. Conclusion ICU nurses reported that the Post-ICU diary had added value for patients and their relatives. However, in the beginning they also experienced barriers such as lack of time, insufficient integration with their own work processes, and challenges regarding writing short messages themselves. For structural embedding of the intervention, tailored strategies are needed to support ICU nurses in using this innovative Post-ICU diary.