ICU sedation, delirium & recovery
Patient recall of intensive care delirium: A qualitative investigation
Authors' conclusion
The ICU survivors in our study recalled delirium as an unpleasant and frightening experience, often leading to delirium-related distress during and after their ICU stay
Study context
- Population
- Critically ill adults who were delirium positive during Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission, interviewed after ICU discharge when delirium-free (4AT)interviewed
- Participants
- 30 adults
- Outcome
- Subjective patient experience of delirium, delirium-related distress and delirium management in ICU
Methodological detailsmulticentre, individual interviews, thematic analysis
- Multicentre
- Individual interviews
- Thematic analysis
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- Main themes (deductive): delirium experience; delirium-related distress; delirium management
- ICU survivors consistently reported delirium-related distress during and after ICU stay: temporal confusion, misinterpretations, distrust towards ICU staff
- Delusions blended factual and fictional elements
- Impaired short-term memory hindered communication and intensified isolation, neglect and loss of control
- Variations in recollection detail
Original publication
Patient recall of intensive care delirium: A qualitative investigation. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. Published 8 June 2024. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →