• Ann M Parker, Louay Aldabain, Narges Akhlaghi, Mary Glover, Stephanie Yost, Michael Velaetis, Annette Lavezza, Earl Mantheiy, Kelsey Albert, and Dale M Needham.
• Ann M. Parker is an assistant professor, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, and a member of the Outcomes After Critical Illness and Surgery (OACIS) Research Group, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland.
• Crit Care Nurse. 2021 Apr 1; 41 (2): 51-60.

BackgroundDelirium in the intensive care unit is associated with poor patient outcomes. Recent studies support nonpharmacological therapy, including cognitive stimulation, to address delirium. Understanding barriers to cognitive stimulation implemented by nurses during clinical care is essential to translating evidence into practice.ObjectiveTo use qualitative methods through a structured quality improvement project to understand nurses' perceived barriers to implementing a cognitive stimulation intervention in a medical intensive care unit.MethodsData were collected through semistructured interviews with nurses in a medical intensive care unit. Data were categorized into themes by using thematic analysis and the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. During cognitive stimulation, nurses reviewed with patients a workbook of evidence-based tasks (focused on math, alertness, motor skills, visual perception, memory, problem-solving, and language).ResultsThe 23 nurses identified 62 barriers to and 26 facilitators of cognitive stimulation. These data were summarized into 12 barrier and 9 facilitator themes corresponding to the following Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research domains: Intervention Characteristics, Outer Setting, Inner Setting, and Characteristics of Individuals. Nurses also identified several facilitators within the Process domain. Patient-specific variables, including sedation, were the most frequently reported barriers. Other barriers included cognitive stimulation not being prioritized, nursing staff-related issues, documentation burden, and a lack of understanding of, or appreciation for, the evidence supporting cognitive stimulation.ConclusionsImplementation of cognitive stimulation requires a multidisciplinary approach to address perceived barriers arising from the organization, context, and individuals associated with the intervention, as well as the intervention itself.©2021 American Association of Critical-Care Nurses.

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