Applying Delirium Assessment Instruments in Intensive Care Units: A Narrative Review

Sabzipour, Azita; Sepahvand, Elham; Kordestani-Moghadam, Parastou; Kaboudi, Bijan

doi:10.22087/ijac.2023.477949.1019

Applying Delirium Assessment Instruments in Intensive Care Units: A Narrative Review

Document Type : Review

Authors

Azita Sabzipour ¹

Elham Sepahvand ²

Parastou Kordestani-Moghadam ³

Bijan Kaboudi ⁴

¹ USERN office, Department of Nursing and midwifery, Lorestan university of medical sciences, Khorramabad, Iran

² School of Nursing and Midwifery, Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran

³ Critical Care and Emergency Nursing, Faculty of Nursing & Midwifery, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran

⁴ Cardiovascular Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran

10.22087/ijac.2023.477949.1019

Abstract

Delirium is a prevalent acute-onset neuropsychiatric disorder affecting individuals across all age groups, with its presence in critically ill patients serving as a significant warning sign. This study aimed to review the application of delirium assessment instruments in intensive care units. A narrative literature review was conducted by searching the SID, IRANDOC, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases using related MeSH and Free Text terms, including “Delirium Scale,” “Intensive Care Unit,” “Screening,” and “Cognitive Disorder.” The primary inclusion criteria were full-text published articles in English and Persian between 1990 and 2024. The review identified 56 delirium screening and diagnostic instruments, many of which focus on issues such as sleep disturbances, inattention, acute onset, or fluctuating periods of cognitive changes. These instruments have been psychometrically evaluated in different countries, each exhibiting varying degrees of validity and reliability in diagnosing, screening, and assessing delirium. To enhance the effectiveness of these instruments, it is recommended to validate their psychometric properties across diverse populations in Iran.

Keywords

Cognitive disorder

Delirium instrument

Intensive care unit

Screening

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