Sedation is commonly used within the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for critically ill patients. How sedation is used for patients can impact the likelihood of patient death, the time spent on a breathing machine and how long someone stays in the ICU. This research project looks at how nurses and doctors use sedation in an ICU in Australia and the UK to better understand how sedation is used and improve sedation practice.
The initial results from the data collected suggest that how well nurses and doctors work together can play a role in how patients are sedated. Other elements, such as the physical layout of the ICU, access to colleague support and the medication used, can also affect how sedation is practised.
Influence national and international policies guiding and advising ways that health care professionals can work so that sedation practice is improved.