• Maarten M J Van Eijk, Jozef Kesecioglu, and Arjen J C Slooter.
• Department of Intensive Care, University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
• Intensive Crit Care Nurs. 2008 Aug 1;24(4):218-21.

ObjectiveDelirium is a frequent and serious problem in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Several international guidelines recommend daily monitoring for ICU-delirium. The purpose of this article is to give an up-to-date overview of the current status of monitoring and treatment of ICU-delirium in the Netherlands.DesignNation-wide, telephone-based questionnaire survey.ParticipantsHead nurse of all ICUs and a random sample of intensivists.ResultsOnly 14% (n=14) of all Dutch ICUs (n=103) monitored for ICU-delirium. Of these, only half (7%) used a tool that is validated in ICU patients. In 31% of Dutch ICUs, a protocol was used to treat ICU-delirium. Responses were obtained from 100% of ICUs.ConclusionDespite an international guideline, not more than 7% of ICUs in our study routinely evaluated the presence of delirium with a validated instrument. Fewer than one-third of Dutch ICUs use a protocol to treat ICU-delirium.

32 keywords...

hide…