Patient recall of intensive care delirium: A qualitative investigation
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
Documents
- Fulltext
Final published version, 589 KB, PDF document
Background: Many patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) experience delirium. Understanding the patient perspective of delirium is important to improve care and reduce suffering. The aim of our study was to investigate the subjective patient experience of delirium, delirium-related distress, and delirium management in ICU. Methods: Our study had a qualitative multicenter design applying individual interviews and thematic analysis. Participants were critically ill adult patients that were determined delirium positive according to validated delirium screening tools during ICU admission. The interviews were conducted after ICU discharge when patients were delirium-free as assessed by the “Rapid clinical test for delirium” (4AT) and able to participate in an interview. Results: We interviewed 30 patients choosing the main themes deductively: Delirium experience; Delirium related distress; and Delirium management. Despite variations in recollection detail, ICU survivors consistently reported delirium-related distress during and after their ICU stay, manifesting as temporal confusion, misinterpretations, and a sense of distrust towards ICU staff. Delusions were characterized by a blend of factual and fictional elements. Impaired short-term memory hindered communication and intensified feelings of isolation, neglect, and loss of control. 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, indicating the necessity for enhanced assessment and treatment.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Journal | Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica |
Volume | 68 |
Issue number | 8 |
Pages (from-to) | 1050-1058 |
ISSN | 0001-5172 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2024 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 The Author(s). Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica Foundation.
- critical care, delirium, experienced delirium, intensive care unit, qualitative research
Research areas
ID: 395133250