Post-intensive care syndrome in adults: perceptions and practices of health professionals in intensive care units in Latin America
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17267/2238-2704rpf.2026.e6725Keywords:
Intensive Care Units, Health Personnel, Attitude of Health Personnel, Surveys and QuestionnairesAbstract
OBJECTIVE: To explore perceptions and practices related to post–intensive care syndrome among healthcare professionals involved in the care of patients in intensive care units in Latin America. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional observational study conducted among healthcare professionals working in intensive care units across 13 Latin American countries. Data were collected anonymously using a validated questionnaire distributed through digital platforms and professional networks and were subjected to descriptive and comparative analyses. The main variables of interest included awareness of the impact of post–intensive care syndrome, use of assessment instruments, and the association between specialized training and perceived level of awareness. RESULTS: With a response rate of 61.9% (n = 499), the study showed that 73.7% of professionals were aware of the impact of post–intensive care syndrome, with higher proportions among intensive care physicians (83.8%) and physiotherapists (81.9%). The use of assessment instruments was reported by only 51.3% of the sample. Specialized training was associated with greater awareness of the syndrome (80.4% vs. 56.2%; p < 0,05) and more frequent use of instruments to assess physical functionality at ICU discharge (40.9% vs. 22.6%; p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study identified a significant gap between awareness of post–intensive care syndrome and the effective use of assessment tools in Latin American ICUs. The variability observed in practices and specialized training across countries and professional groups highlights the relevance of this work as a basis for future multicenter studies and for the standardization of clinical practices in Latin America.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Esther Cecilia Wilches-Luna, Darío Villalba, Vilma Eugenia Muñoz-Arcos, María Ángeles de la Torre-Ramos, Francisco Luis Pérez-Caballero, Agustina Davancens, Sebastián Gallegos-Berrios, Gladis Mercedes Canchila-Paternina, Jose Julian Bernal Sanchez
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
