The effects of family-involved sensory stimulation interventions on delirium outcomes: A systematic review and...

Delirium is a severe neuropsychiatric syndrome characterised by a transient, fluctuating, altered mental state. Currently, family-involved sensory stimulation interventions have been explored for their effects on delirium outcomes. However, the existing evidence remains fragmented and has not been synthesised through a systematic and quantitative method.

The aims of this review are to synthesise the current studies on family-involved sensory stimulation interventions and to determine their effects on delirium outcomes.

We comprehensively searched 11 electronic databases and reference lists until February 23, 2025. The Cochrane Collaboration's tool was used to assess the risk of bias. Review Manager 5.4.1 (The Cochrane Collaboration, London, UK) was used to perform the quantitative analysis.

In total, five randomised controlled trials involving 496 participants were included. Family-involved sensory stimulation interventions may reduce delirium incidence (odds ratio [OR] = 0.24; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.13 to 0.46; P < 0.0001) and duration (standardised mean difference [SMD] = -2.68; 95% CI: -4.22 to -1.15; P = 0.0006). Both unisensory stimulation (incidence: OR = 0.28; 95% CI: 0.14 to 0.54; P = 0.0001; duration: SMD = -1.64; 95% CI: -1.90 to -1.38; P < 0.00001) and multisensory stimulation (incidence: OR = 0.22; 95% CI: 0.07 to 0.67; P = 0.008; duration: SMD = -3.12; 95% CI: -5.80 to -0.43; P = 0.02) were associated with decreased delirium incidence and duration. Interventions lasting up to 3 days (OR = 0.18; 95% CI: 0.04 to 0.93; P = 0.04), as well as those lasting more than 3 days (OR = 0.35; 95% CI: 0.22 to 0.56; P < 0.0001), were associated with decreased delirium incidence.

Family-involved sensory stimulation interventions may improve delirium outcomes in decreasing delirium incidence and duration. High-quality randomised controlled trials should further clarify their efficacy as well as assess the optimal dosage, feasibility, acceptability, and cost-effectiveness of these interventions in critical care.