EVALUATION OF THE REHABILITATION OF POST-ICU PATIENTS AND THE POTENTIAL FOR INTEGRATING MOBILE HEALTH SOLUTIONS FOR FOLLOW-UP chichomefire@gmail.com

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EVALUATION OF THE REHABILITATION OF POST-ICU PATIENTS AND THE POTENTIAL FOR INTEGRATING MOBILE HEALTH SOLUTIONS FOR FOLLOW-UP

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Cameroon

Oral or Poster

Leaving the ICU is often just the beginning of a long recovery journey. Many survivors experience significant physical, social and psychological challenges that often lead to poor recovery outcome, yet most are discharged without structured follow-up. In Cameroon, rehabilitation after critical illness remains limited. This study aimed to assess the rehabilitation status of ICU survivors and explore the feasibility of using mobile health (mHealth) tools to support post-discharge follow-up.

We conducted a retrospective, cross-sectional mixed methods study. The WHOQOL-BREF tool was used to assess quality of life as a proxy for rehabilitation status. In-depth interviews with ICU survivors (or their primary caregivers) and healthcare providers were conducted to explore barriers and perceptions surrounding mHealth follow-up. Quantitative data were analysed using R (version 4.2.3) and RStudio (version 2023.6.1.524). Qualitative data were analysed thematically using Braun and Clarke’s six-step framework.

Among 482 discharged ICU patients, 369 (76.6%) were not referred to any form of rehabilitation. We successfully contacted 350 individuals (72.6%), of whom 297 (84.9%) were alive. WHOQOL-BREF scores were lowest in the environmental (mean 48.3 ± 14.7) and psychological (mean 49 ± 17.4) domains. Thematic analysis identified barriers such as financial constraints, lack of structured discharge planning, low digital literacy, and limited infrastructure. Despite these challenges, both patients and healthcare workers expressed openness to simple mHealth solutions, particularly SMS-based reminders in local languages and involving caregivers.

Post-ICU rehabilitation remains a neglected area. mHealth tools offer a feasible, culturally acceptable solution to improve follow-up and support recovery among ICU survivors.