AbstractBackground Survivors of intensive care often experience ongoing physical, cognitive, and psychological challenges, collectively referred to as post–intensive care syndrome. Peer support programs have emerged as interventions to assist patients and caregivers in navigating recovery, yet their impact on patients requiring repeated admissions to the intensive care unit (ICU) is not well understood. Case presentation We describe the experience of an individual who attended the Royal Adelaide Hospital's Survive and Thrive ICU peer support program following an initial ICU admission for severe bacterial pneumonia complicated by delirium. The individual subsequently required a second ICU admission for infective endocarditis and mitral valve replacement. During both admissions, the individual experienced ICU delirium, deconditioning, and psychosocial stressors. Engagement with the peer support program before and after the second admission provided experiential knowledge, coping strategies, and emotional support, which the individual reported as having aided in reducing anxiety and facilitating recovery. The individual also contributed to program development and co-design, guiding discussions on delirium and post-ICU care. Discussion The individual's narrative illustrates the role of peer support in enhancing patient preparedness, normalising post-ICU experiences, and informing clinical practice. Participation offered both psychosocial benefits and opportunities for patient-driven improvements in ICU care. Conclusion ICU peer support can mitigate anxiety during subsequent admissions, support recovery, and foster consumer engagement in quality improvement initiatives. Peer-led interventions have the potential to supplement conventional post-ICU surveillance, as demonstrated by this instance.
Dafoe et al. (Thu,) studied this question.