“Sepsis brought him to his knees”: exploring the lived experiences and perspectives of sepsis survivors and family members to inform a sepsis public education campaign in Canada

Table 2 Participant reported impacts of sepsis on the sepsis sufferer^a

Health Domain	Impact Description
Physical
	• Chronic pain • Chronic medication needs • Fatigue, exhaustion, and/or muscle weakness • Organ or limb loss / damage / dysfunction • Sleep disturbances and trouble sleeping • Weakened immune system
Mental
	• Acute trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder • Anger and blame towards healthcare providers • Anxiety (prolonged) • Depression • Fear of getting sick again • Feeling like a burden on loved ones and on health care providers • Guilt and self-blame for getting sepsis • Stress (prolonged) • Unable to perform previous hobbies or activities
Social
	• Aesthetic changes to the body such as skin necrosis • More empathy for others with chronic illness • Strained relationships with friends and family
Financial
	• Employment changes (job loss, career shifts, early retirement) • Out-of-pocket healthcare expenses for rehabilitation

^a Impacts are multifaceted and can affect the health and well-being of sepsis sufferers in domains other than the one the impact is classified in. For example, chronic pain while classified as a physical impact can also impact mental, social, and financial wellbeing.

ISSN: 1471-2458