The Impact of Nursing Delirium Preventive Interventions in the Intensive Care Unit (UNDERPIN-ICU)

The Impact of nUrsiNg DEliRium Preventive INterventions in the Intensive Care Unit (UNDERPIN-ICU): A Multi-centre, Stepped Wedge Randomized Controlled Trial

Delirium is a common disorder in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients and is associated with serious short- and long-term consequences. This study focuses on a program of standardized nursing and physical therapy interventions to prevent delirium in the ICU, and determines the effect of the program on the number of delirium-coma-free days in 28 days and several secondary outcomes in a multicenter randomized controlled trial.

Delirium is a common disorder in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients and is associated with serious short- and long-term consequences, including re-intubations, ICU readmissions, prolonged ICU and hospital stay, persistent cognitive problems, and higher mortality rates. Considering the high incidence of delirium and its consequences, prevention of delirium is imperative. This study focuses on a program of standardized nursing and physical therapy interventions to prevent delirium in the ICU, called UNDERPIN-ICU (nUrsiNg DEliRium Preventive INterventions in the ICU). Objective: To determine the effect of the UNDERPIN-ICU program on the number of delirium-coma-free days in 28 days and several secondary outcomes, such as delirium incidence, the number of days of survival in 28 and 90 days and delirium-related outcomes. Design and Setting: A multicenter stepped wedge cluster randomized controlled trial. Methods: Eight to ten Dutch ICUs will implement the UNDERPIN-ICU program in a randomized order. Every two months the UNDERPIN-ICU program will be implemented in an additional ICU following a two months period of staff training. UNDERPIN-ICU consists of standardized protocols focusing on several modifiable risk factors for delirium, including cognitive impairment, sleep deprivation, immobility and visual and hearing impairment. Participants: ICU patients aged ≥ 18 years (surgical, medical, or trauma) and at high risk for delirium, E-PRE-DELIRIC ≥35%, will be included, unless delirium was detected prior ICU admission, expected length of ICU stay is less then one day or when delirium assessment is not possible.

UNDERPIN-ICU consists of standardized protocols focusing on several modifiable risk factors for delirium, including cognitive impairment, sleep deprivation, immobility and visual and hearing impairment.

The number of days a patient is not delirious and not in coma in 28 days starting from the day of inclusion in the study after ICU admission.

Patients who need to be intubated within 28 days after ICU admission, following a previous extubation, irrespectively the reason for re-intubation, will be counted as incident case for re-intubation.

Patients who need to be readmitted to the ICU within 28 days, irrespectively the reason for readmission, will be counted as incident cases for ICU readmission.

Incidents in which patients remove their tube or catheter themselves will be counted as incident cases for unplanned removal. The period in which this is measured is during patients' ICU stay or during the period when the patient is delirious (in case a patient is discharged to the ward) with a maximum of 28 days.

Patients who need physical restraints (fixation of their limbs to prevent them from removing tubes or lines) within 28 days, will be counted as incident cases for physical restraints.

This is defined as the number of days a patient is admitted to the ICU. Hospital length of stay is defined as number of days a patient is admitted to the hospital.

This is defined as the number of days a patient is admitted to the ICU. Hospital length of stay is defined as number of days a patient is admitted to the hospital.

Inclusion Criteria: aged ≥ 18 years surgical, medical or trauma patients admitted to one of the participating ICUs at high risk for delirium (>35% determined with the E-PRE-DELIRIC prediction tool) Exclusion Criteria: delirious before ICU admission an ICU stay < one day reliable assessment for delirium is not possible due to: sustained coma; serious auditory or visual disorders; inability to understand Dutch; severely mentally disabled; serious receptive aphasia.

Wassenaar A, Rood P, Schoonhoven L, Teerenstra S, Zegers M, Pickkers P, van den Boogaard M. The impact of nUrsiNg DEliRium Preventive INnterventions in the Intensive Care Unit (UNDERPIN-ICU): A study protocol for a multi-centre, stepped wedge randomized controlled trial. Int J Nurs Stud. 2017 Mar;68:1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2016.11.018. Epub 2016 Dec 8.

Rood PJT, Zegers M, Ramnarain D, Koopmans M, Klarenbeek T, Ewalds E, van der Steen MS, Oldenbeuving AW, Kuiper MA, Teerenstra S, Adang E, van Loon LM, Wassenaar A, Vermeulen H, Pickkers P, van den Boogaard M; UNDERPIN-ICU Study Investigators. The Impact of Nursing Delirium Preventive Interventions in the ICU: A Multicenter Cluster-randomized Controlled Clinical Trial. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2021 Sep 15;204(6):682-691. doi: 10.1164/rccm.202101-0082OC.