Exploring Enrollment Rates, Consent Barriers and Acceptability of SAF-T Provision in ICU: A Preliminary Study

The intensive care unit (ICU) is a highly stressful and emotionally challenging environment, not only for patients but also for their family members. Many family members experience significant psychological distress, including symptoms of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), collectively known as Post-Intensive Care Syndrome-Family (PICS-F). These psychological difficulties can severely impact their ability to provide emotional support to their hospitalized relatives and manage their own well-being. Traditional psychological interventions are often insufficient in addressing the complex and acute emotional needs of families in the ICU setting. As a result, innovative approaches like Sensation Awareness Focused Training (SAF-T) have been proposed. SAF-T is a mindfulness-based intervention that focuses on enhancing emotional regulation by increasing individuals’ awareness of their bodily sensations, helping them better manage emotional distress. Preliminary feedback from healthcare providers and administrators suggests that SAF-T holds promise as a supportive intervention for ICU family members. However, practical challenges in implementation remain, including low enrollment rates, difficulties in obtaining informed consent, and concerns about the acceptability of the intervention among families. This preliminary study aims to explore these critical barriers to SAF-T implementation, specifically examining enrollment rates, consent challenges, and perceptions of acceptability among family members of ICU patients. By identifying these factors, the study seeks to clarify the feasibility of integrating SAF-T into ICU care protocols. The findings will help inform future large-scale studies, aiming to enhance psychological support for family members and improve overall family-centered care in critical care environments.