Study of Recovery Expectations and Mental Health in Adults Surviving Acute Respiratory Failure and Their Care Partners

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are investigating how adults who survive acute respiratory failure ARF and their care partners, usually family members or friends, perceive the first six months of recovery after returning home. This observational study aims to understand if expectations about recovery are linked to mental health symptoms in both survivors and their care partners. It also explores how shared expectations within these pairs, called dyads, relate to their ability to cope together with illness-related stress. The study is led by Johns Hopkins University and focuses on mental health and coping during the recovery period after ARF. The study will recruit 235 pairs of adult ARF survivors and their care partners. Participants will complete three surveys over six months, which can be done online, by phone, or on paper. These surveys measure expectations about health six months after hospital discharge, self-efficacy, and dyadic coping. Expectations and perceptions are collected at the start and at a three-month follow-up using visual analogue scales. Self-efficacy is assessed at three and six months using a standardized questionnaire. Participants will be asked to complete surveys assessing their feelings, mood, and future expectations at baseline, three months, and six months after the survivors intensive care unit discharge. The main outcomes measured include symptoms of anxiety and depression, as well as how well the survivor and care partner cope together. Secondary outcomes include symptoms of post-traumatic stress, quality of life, social isolation, and financial stress. The study will monitor these aspects over the six-month period to better understand recovery and mental health in ARF survivor-care partner dyads.

Investigating Dyadic Expectations About ARF Survivorship (IDEAS)