Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 1, 2026
Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
Published on: August 25, 2014
Delirium in neonates and infants: a scoping review protocol
Soonyoung Shon1, Mi-So Shim1, Minkyung Kang2
1College of Nursing, Keimyung University, Daegu, Korea (the Republic of).
Insights
This scoping review examines delirium in neonates and infants, exploring its unique features, contributing factors, and current management strategies. It aims to clarify the effectiveness of existing interventions for this vulnerable population.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal and infant care
- Pediatric critical care
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Delirium assessment and management in neonates and infants present unique challenges due to developmental differences.
- Existing pediatric delirium strategies may not be directly applicable or effective in this age group.
- There is a need to consolidate current knowledge on neonatal and infant delirium.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a comprehensive scoping review of delirium in neonates and infants.
- To identify and explore the characteristics, related factors, and current assessment and intervention strategies for neonatal and infant delirium.
- To inform future research and clinical practice guidelines.
Main Methods:
- The study will follow the Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines for scoping reviews.
- A systematic search of multiple databases (MEDLINE, EBSCO, Embase, Cochrane Library) will be conducted from 2004 to 2024.
- Results will be reported following the PRISMA-ScR checklist.
Main Results:
- This section will summarize findings on delirium features in neonates and infants.
- It will detail identified risk factors and associated conditions.
- Current assessment tools and intervention strategies (pharmacological and non-pharmacological) will be presented.
Conclusions:
- This review will provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of knowledge on neonatal and infant delirium.
- Findings will highlight gaps in research and clinical practice.
- The results will guide the development of effective management strategies for this population.
Introduction:
Delirium in neonates and infants is difficult to screen or assess because of their different developmental features and distinct delirium characteristics compared with those of older children. Some delirium management strategies, including assessment, pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions, and prevention strategies, have been previously suggested for paediatric delirium. However, whether these strategies are effective for delirium in neonates and infants is unclear. This scoping review aims to explore comprehensive information on delirium in neonates and infants, such as the features of delirium, factors related to delirium, and current assessments and interventions in neonates and infants.
Methods And Analysis:
This study will be based on the Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines for scoping review protocol development and follow each stage of the framework proposed by Arksey and O'Malley. Research questions regarding delirium management in neonates and infants will be specified. A wide range of databases, including MEDLINE, EBSCO, Embase and the Cochrane Library, using optimised terms will be searched from 2004 to 2024. The summarised results will be reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension of the Scoping Reviews checklist.
Ethics And Dissemination:
Since this study will review and summarise published scientific literature, ethical approval is not required. The results of this scoping review will be disseminated through conference presentations and peer-reviewed publications. The study findings will be disseminated through seminars for experts so that they can be reflected in practice.
