AUTHOR=Gong Yichun , Yang Huilong , Xie Junqing , Liu Jingtao , Zhou Jianxin , Ma Penglin 

TITLE=ICU Physicians' Perception of Patients' Tolerance Levels in Light Sedation Impacts Sedation Practice for Mechanically Ventilated Patients

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Medicine

VOLUME=Volume 6 - 2019

YEAR=2019

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2019.00226

DOI=10.3389/fmed.2019.00226

ISSN=2296-858X

ABSTRACT=Purpose: To investigate physician’s perception for patient’s tolerability, which could affect sedation practice for mechanically ventilated (MV) patients.
Methods: This is a questionnaire survey combined with a 24-h cross-sectional study. Physician’s propensity score for light sedation (PS-LS) was estimated by his/her response to the given answers for each item of the questionnaire, which tested the levels of interviewee’s desire to manage MV patient with light sedation. Thereby, mean physician’s PS-LS of each participating ICU (ICU-meanPS-LS) was calculated. The practical measurements of all variables listed on the questionnaire were used to semi-quantitatively assess stimulus intensity of what the recruited patients suffered (i.e. semi-quantitative stimulus intensity, SSI). Sedation depth was assessed by Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale (RASS).
Results: 555 of 558 (99.5%) physicians from 102 ICUs were concerned of patient’s tolerability while titrating sedation depth. The physician’s PS-LS was non-normally distributed with median (IQR) of 3 (0-5). ICU-meanPS-LS was calculated in 92 out of 102 ICUs participating in cross-sectional study, which was ranged from -5 to 7 with a median (IQR) of 2.37 (0.16-4.33). A significant increasing trend in prevalence of light sedation was observed over increasing ICU-meanPS-LS quartiles (from Q1 to Q4, χ2 test for trend, p = 0.002). Moreover, odds ratio for probability of light sedation remained significant in MV patients from Q4 ICUs vs Q1 ICUs, adjusted by APACHE II score (OR, 2.332; 95% CI: 1.463-3.717; p < 0.001) or SSI score (OR, 2.445; 95% CI: 1.468-4.074; p = 0.001). Notably, adjusted OR for mortality was significant in deeply sedated MV patients (OR, 2.034; 95% CI: 1.435-2.884; p < 0.001). 
Conclusions: ICU physician’s individualized perception for patient’s tolerability in light sedation affected sedation practice for MV patients.