1Teacher at Technical Secondary School of Nursing in Assiut, Egypt
2Assistant Professor of Critical Care and Emergency Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Assiut University, Egypt.
3Lecturer of Anesthesia and Intensive Care Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Egypt.
Abstract
Background: Critically ill individuals commonly develop delirium due to a variety of factors, recent surgical or invasive interventions, and multiple stressors such as psychological distress, mechanical ventilation, noise, lighting, frequent clinical procedures, and sleep disruption. Study aim: To assess the incidence of delirium among critically ill patients and examine potential predictive factors. Research Design: A descriptive, exploratory approach. Setting: This study was conducted in the intensive care units (ICUs) of Al-Eman General Hospital, Assiut. Sample: Ninety four newly admitted male and female patients in the intensive care units at Al-Eman General Hospital participated in the study. Tools: Data collection involved four instruments: a general assessment sheet for critically ill patients, the Intensive Care Delirium Screening Checklist, the Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale, and a set of predictors for delirium among critically ill patients. Results: Delirium was observed in 51% of ICU-admitted patients, with highest prevalence among those aged >60 years. Gender distribution was nearly equal among affected patients. Sleep disruption showed a 100% association with delirium onset. Environmental factors also correlated significantly, with delirious patients more frequently exposed to subdued environments (p < 0.01) and inadequate lighting (p=0.002). Conclusion: The study demonstrates a high incidence of delirium among ICU admissions. Recommendations: Implementation of protocolized delirium screening should be prioritized in critical care units, with particular attention to sleep hygiene and environmental modifications.
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