Abstract
AIM: To study the perception of nonintensivists of Indian intensive care units (ICUs) about the role of intensivists as leaders of the ICU, their impact on patient outcomes, including length of stay on the ventilator, cost of care, and evidence-driven quality care using a survey questionnaire.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study employed an online survey conducted using a Google Form and distributed via WhatsApp to nonintensivists taking care of ICU/high dependency unit (HDU) patients in public and private hospitals all over India. It consisted of 24 questions related to perceptions about the role of an intensivist in the ICU, their impact on patient-driven outcomes, ICU processes, and ICU structure.
RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference in responses from respondents working in closed and semi-open ICUs vs open ICUs. Overall, the presence of an intensivist was perceived to be associated with improvements in patient outcomes, smoother decision-making for complex cases, reduced costs by avoiding unnecessary tests, and reduced litigation by patient families, especially in closed and semi-open ICUs vs open ICUs.
CONCLUSION: This is the first-ever survey done to understand the role of an intensivist in the ICU in India in the eyes of a nonintensivist/admitting physician or surgeon. It shows that intensivists are considered to play a significant role in impacting patient outcomes, such as facilitating smoother decision-making in complex cases, improving decision-making efficiency, reducing costs associated with unnecessary tests, and preventing litigation by families. The survey results are very encouraging and should pave the way for conducting large-scale surveys in the developing world.