Nutritional recovery after critical illness: A qualitative study of ICU survivors' experiences after hospital discharge

Terblanche, Ella, Majid, Hazreen Abdul, Khan, Humaira and Vogel, Steven (2026) Nutritional recovery after critical illness: A qualitative study of ICU survivors' experiences after hospital discharge. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, 39. ISSN 1365-277X

Text Terblanche 2026 JHND Full article combined.pdf - Accepted Version Restricted to Repository staff only until 30 July 2027. Available under License All Rights Reserved . Download (500kB)

Abstract

Introduction: Substantial and persistent barriers to achieving adequate nutritional intake exist for adult survivors ofcritical illness in the year following hospital discharge. Despite the clear burden, nutrition rehabilitation remains alargely neglected component of post‐ICU recovery. Greater understanding of lived experiences is needed to informperson‐centred dietetic interventions. The aim was to explore how survivors of critical illness describe, interpret, andnavigate their nutritional recovery after hospital discharge, and the personal, relational, and systemic factors that shapethese experiences.Methods: A qualitative study adopted a narrative enquiry approach to elicit participants lived experiences and stories using in‐depth interviews. The Transtheoretical Model was used as a sensitising concept that emerged during analysis. Participants wererecruited through convenience sampling, and sample size determined using information power. Narrative analysis and reflexivethematic analysis was used.Results: Sixteen participants (11 women, 5 men) took part (median age 53 years; median of 2.4 years since discharge). Fourcoexisting themes were identified: (1) Eating in the shadow of critical illness, (2) Nutritional care that worked (3) Unmetnutritional needs, and (4) What we wish we'd had. Integration of narrative and thematic analysis revealed two broad nutritionalrecovery processes, an enabling and a constraining recovery process, shaped by psychological readiness, agency, relationalsupport, and access to care.Conclusions: Nutritional recovery after critical illness is dynamic and multidimensional shaped not only by physical symp-toms, but also by trauma, identity disruption, readiness to change, relational environments and systemic support. Thesefindings provide groundwork for person‐centred dietetic interventions following hospital discharge.

Item Type:	Article
Schools:	School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
Depositing User:	Bridget Roberts
Date Deposited:	03 Aug 2026 08:48
Last Modified:	03 Aug 2026 08:48
URI:	https://hsu.repository.guildhe.ac.uk/id/eprint/666

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