Promoting vision and hearing aids use in an intensive care unit

Area of Science:

• Critical Care Medicine
• Gerontology
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Vision and hearing impairments are recognized modifiable risk factors for delirium.
• Delirium is a common complication in critically ill patients, associated with increased mortality and hospital stay.
• Preventative strategies, focusing on risk factor minimization, are recommended over pharmacological treatments for delirium.

Purpose of the Study:

• To audit the prevalence and availability of vision and hearing aid use in an intensive care unit (ICU).
• To assess the impact of implementing changes to an electronic health record system on promoting sensory aid use.
• To improve the management of modifiable risk factors for delirium in critically ill patients.

Main Methods:

• An audit was conducted to survey vision and hearing aid use in a university hospital ICU.
• Changes were implemented in the ICU Innovian assessment system to prompt nursing staff on delirium reduction measures.
• A re-audit was performed after six months to evaluate the effectiveness of the implemented changes.

Main Results:

• Baseline data revealed a high prevalence of sensory impairments but low availability and use of vision and hearing aids.
• Implementation of the Innovian system reminders improved the practice of promoting sensory aid use.
• Subsequent amendments to risk assessments achieved 100% assessment rates and near 100% vision aid use.

Conclusions:

• Systematic prompts within electronic health records can significantly improve the use of vision and hearing aids in ICUs.
• Enhancing the availability and use of sensory aids is an effective strategy for delirium prevention in critically ill patients.
• This multi-system management approach contributes to reducing delirium incidence and improving patient care in the ICU.