ICU Delirium -- Evidence Review and Synthesis Evidence Review

Luetz et al. (2014) conducted a study in which they examined how delirium management is an important aspect of intensive care treatment alongside analgesia and sedation management. The main objective of the study was to examine the implementation rate of delirium screening by healthcare professionals in the intensive care unit. To achieve the study's objectives, the researchers utilized a multinational, two-part survey in which hospital and ICU data as well as patients' data was collected and analyzed. The study found that even though 44% of hospitals and ICUs reported using a validated screening assessment, only 27% of patients had been monitored using the instrument. Additionally, the researchers found that a validated screening instrument enhances the ability of healthcare professionals to identify ICU delirium. The study provides Level III evidence, which is essential for this study to promote the use of a validated ICU delirium assessment tool for identification of the condition. The article is relevant to this research because it demonstrates the reasons for failure to identify ICU delirium in many ICUs.

Ista et al. (2014) conducted a study to examine how to improve care for ICU patients with delirium through the use of an early screening tool and treatment approach. The study found that the rates of delirium occurrence increases among ICU patients following the implementation of early screening because of detection of hypoactive screening. However, the ICU delirium prevention and management lessens these incidences. Therefore, screening should be carried out and followed by prevention and management. The study provides Level II evidence since it was randomized control trial carried out in six intensive care...

The significance of this study to this current research is its provision of a specific validated assessment tool for ICU delirium screening and identification of barriers and facilitators of implementation of screening. In this regard, ICU delirium screening tool provided in this study will be considered as an intervention for the specific practice site and population of this project. The barriers and facilitators identified in the study will also be utilized as guidelines for implementing the ICU delirium assessment tool in this project.
Filinson et al. (2016) conducted a study to examine the adoption of ICU delirium assessment tools in intensive care units based on a review of acute care settings in two hospitals. The study found that educational programs enhances the use of delirium screening tools by healthcare providers in the acute care settings. They also found that delirium screening tools like CAM enhance the detection of this condition among patients in intensive care units. The study provides Level VI evidence since the researcher carried out a project based on the Plan-Do-Study-Act model proposed by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement. The significance of this study to this project is that it proposes the adoption of Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) in ICUs as a means for enhancing delirium detection. The proposed delirium screening tool will be considered as a probable intervention for this project to be implemented for adults in an ICU.

Friedman et al. (2014) conducted a research to examine delirium assessment among cancer patients admitted to an inpatient hospice unit. The researchers found that delirium is a common condition among patients with advanced cancer. Secondly, Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) seems to be the most suitable delirium…