AIM: To explore the qualitative literature regarding the experiences of survivors of critical illness re-engaging in activities of daily living. DESIGN: Qualitative systematic review. METHODS: Databases were searched with three broad categories of search terms: (1) critical illness, (2) activities of daily living, and (3) participant experiences. Articles were included if they reported qualitative data on the experiences of adults who were re-engaging with activities of daily living after admission to an intensive care unit. The findings from these studies were thematically analysed. DATA SOURCES: A search of Medline, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO and AMED was conducted on the 9th September 2024. RESULTS: After removing duplicates, the literature search identified 6267 articles. The full texts of 120 articles were reviewed, and 44 were included for data extraction. Thematic analysis identified three themes: (1) loss of autonomy, (2) striving to reclaim independence, and (3) shifting familial dynamics and imposing a burden. CONCLUSION: Survivors of critical illness face significant challenges when re-engaging with daily activities. The effort to regain autonomy often leads to feelings of helplessness and a reluctance to engage in both daily tasks and social activities. The emotional burden of dependence and the perception of being a burden further complicate their recovery. IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PROFESSION: Health services should focus on integrating physical rehabilitation, mealtime support, and cognitive and psychological therapy to effectively cater to the diverse needs of critical illness survivors and their families. IMPACT: This review highlights the complex challenges of re-engaging in activities of daily living after critical illness and emphasises the need for multidisciplinary rehabilitation to improve physical, cognitive, and emotional recovery. REPORTING METHOD: Reporting of this review followed the ENTREQ checklist, in accordance with EQUATOR guidelines. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: No Patient or Public Contribution.
Williams et al. (2026) studied this question.