Effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions in reducing delirium in older adults in the intensive care unit

Abstract

Brief overview of the topic: Delirium is a sudden onset of confusion and disorientation in one’s surroundings, caused by various factors like prescription drugs, medical disorders, and substance withdrawal. Delirium is treated using medications, such as haloperidol, or non-pharmacological interventions. Research question: Using the PICO framework, the research question “Are non-pharmacological interventions effective in reducing delirium in older adults in the Intensive Treatment Unit (ITU)?” was formulated. PICO elements: (P) Older adults in ITU (I) non-pharmacological interventions (C) no comparison (O) reduced delirium. Method: This dissertation reviewed research on reducing delirium using non-pharmacological interventions from 2012 to 2022, focusing on studies in English that recruited individuals over 18 and used only non-pharmacological therapies as the primary treatment. The author used CINAHL, Academic Search Ultimate, APA Psychinfo, and Medline to search for relevant studies. Five RCTs met the inclusion and exclusion criteria and were evaluated using the CASP tool to identify strengths and weaknesses in their approach. Ethical issues were also assessed and discussed. Results: The findings supported the use of non-pharmacological interventions as a therapy for delirium, especially when family members were involved in the recovery of the patient. Conclusion: The studies reviewed yielded clear and conclusive findings, with a high level of confidence in their validity and reliability. The PICO question was adequately answered, as nonpharmacological interventions were found to effectively reduce delirium in older adults in the ITU. Implications and recommendations: Further research is needed to address the methodological limitations and other non-pharmacological interventions such as positioning of the bed. Local studies addressing the topic are suggested as none were found. This will assist in the development of new procedures for the treatment of delirium patients both locally and worldwide.