Effective transition: A dual and stressful challenge for patients in the intensive care unit

Patients in the intensive care unit (ICU), who generally recover from a difficult and life-threatening condition, often suffer from complications in various physical, mental, psychological, and social dimensions [1]. It is necessary to adjust these conditions and prevent the spread of their complications, to support the recovery of these patients. Therefore, proper preparation of the patient in different dimensions and correct education of them during transfer from the ICU are vital [2]. Although discharge is a positive step towards the patient's recovery, a patient who is not mentally or physically ready to transfer to the ward will experience severe anxiety during the transfer from the ICU to the general ward, which is caused by a phenomenon called the effective transition [3]. The term transition describes the process of change in developmental stages of life or change in health and social conditions rather than a reaction to change. This transition is accompanied by changes in identity, role, communication, ability, and behavior, which require new knowledge, behavior change, and self-definition for a person to adapt. Factors affecting the transition process include preparation and planning, individual knowledge, meaning and experience of transition, individual transitioning environment, and emotions and well-being [4].