The Delphi Delirium Management Algorithms. A practical tool for clinicians, the result of a modified Delphi expert...

Area of Science:

• Geriatrics
• Critical Care Medicine
• Internal Medicine

Background:

• Delirium is a frequent complication in hospitalized patients, lacking specific treatments.
• Current guidelines focus on screening and symptomatic care but lack structured approaches for identifying underlying causes.
• Effective delirium management necessitates addressing its root causes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop structured algorithms for identifying the underlying causes of delirium.
• To provide clinicians with evidence-based tools for delirium management.
• To create consensus-driven guidelines for diverse patient populations.

Main Methods:

• A modified Delphi approach involving 37 international delirium experts.
• Utilized an online platform for five rounds of expert voting and consensus-building.
• Developed three distinct management algorithms tailored to different care settings.

Main Results:

• Achieved expert consensus on a structured approach to delirium cause identification.
• Generated three "Delirium Delphi Algorithms" for ward, post-cardiac surgery, and ICU patients.
• The algorithms offer a systematic method for managing delirium.

Conclusions:

• The Delirium Delphi Algorithms provide a structured, expert-endorsed approach to managing delirium by focusing on underlying causes.
• These algorithms aim to improve clinical practice in identifying and treating delirium across various hospital settings.
• The consensus-based development ensures a robust and applicable tool for clinicians.