Exploring the experiences and needs of sepsis survivors: A mixed method systematic review

Abstract

Background: Sepsis survival has increased in recent years. However, sepsis survivors continue to experience poor outcomes that disrupt their lives. Interventions should begin early in the hospital and continue after discharge. However, little is known about the existing evidence on post-sepsis interventions and its effectiveness. Objective: To explore the experiences and needs of sepsis survivors and consolidate existing evidence on post-sepsis interventions to enhance recovery. Methods: A mixed-methods systematic review was conducted. Quantitative and qualitative studies that explored the experiences and needs of sepsis survivors and quantitative studies that investigated the effects of post-sepsis interventions on long-term outcomes were included. Included participants are adults, aged 18 years and older who survived sepsis. Several electronic databases were searched for published and unpublished studies without date limits. Two independent reviewers screened potential studies for inclusion and retrieved full-text articles for data extraction. Included studies were appraised using the JBI’s critical appraisal tools. Data from findings were synthesized narratively. Results: Twenty-nine studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in this review. Nineteen studies explored the experiences and needs of sepsis survivors while ten studies evaluated the effectiveness of post-sepsis interventions. Four themes emerged from the synthesis: physical limitations, psychosocial impact, cognitive impairment and post-sepsis rehabilitation. Post-sepsis deficits experienced by sepsis survivors, including psychological and psychological aspects, reduced their quality of life. Furthermore, data regarding postsepsis rehabilitation remain limited and definitive conclusions cannot be drawn about their effectiveness. Conclusions: This review has explored the experiences and needs of sepsis survivors and consolidated evidence regarding post-sepsis interventions. Lasting impact on sepsis survivor’s quality of life by poor long-term outcomes were revealed. Limited evidence regarding post-sepsis rehabilitation outlines a need for more extensive research in developing interventions to improve the long-term outcomes of sepsis survivors.