Abstract: Objective: To explore the changes of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and social support in ICU survivors, and analyze the relationship among HRQoL, social support and nursing sensitive outcomes (NSO). Methods: We investigated 112 critically ill patients by health status questionnaire (SF-36) and Perceived Social Support Scale (PSSS) in the ICU of a hospital from March 2017 to March 2019, and recorded their NSO and incidence. Results: The scores of SF-36 for all dimensions of ICU survivors at 6 months after discharge were higher than those at 1 month after discharge (P<0.05).The scores of PSSS of ICU survivors at 6 months after discharge were higher than those at 1 month after discharge (P<0.05). Family support, ventilator-associated pneumonia, pressure ulcers, urinary incontinence and associated dermatitis were independent factors affecting ICU survivors' HRQoL at 6 months after discharge (P<0.05). Conclusion: Social support can improve the HRQOL of ICU survivors, especially family support, while the NSO may harm it.

Key words: ICU; survivors; quality of life; social support; nursing