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A Systematic Review of the Effectiveness of Delirium Recovery Interventions
Amy Montgomery1, Kimberley Campbell1, Sara-Jane Roberts1
1Faculty of Health, Improving Palliative, Aged and Chronic Care through Clinical Research and Translation (IMPACCT), University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, New South Wales, Australia.
Objective:
To assess the completeness of reporting nonpharmacologic delirium recovery interventions (using the Template for Intervention Description and Replication checklist), examine the extent to which these interventions address physical, cognitive, and emotional recovery domains, and evaluate their effectiveness in reducing delirium symptoms and improving recovery outcomes in adults.
Design:
Systematic review conducted following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.
Setting And Participants:
Studies involving adults (aged 18 years or older) with diagnosed and ongoing delirium, evaluating 1 or more nonpharmacological interventions designed to support recovery from delirium.
Methods:
MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and Scopus were searched for randomized and quasiexperimental trials assessing nonpharmacologic interventions to support delirium recovery. Two reviewers independently assessed study quality (Joanna Briggs Institute checklists). Data were synthesized narratively, and interventions were evaluated using the Template for Intervention Description and Replication checklist.
Results:
A total of 11 studies (reporting in 12 articles) met the inclusion criteria. There was wide variation in intervention elements, dosage, and duration. Intervention fidelity was high, with minimal attrition attributable to the recovery interventions. Over half of the studies were conducted during the participant's acute hospital admission, and only 1 study continued into the participant's home post discharge. Few interventions targeted emotional recovery from delirium, and long-term follow-up was limited.
Conclusion And Implications:
Current evidence on delirium recovery interventions is limited, heterogeneous, and largely confined to the acute care setting. Emotional recovery and long-term outcomes remain underexplored. There is an urgent need for studies evaluating multidisciplinary interventions that address physical, cognitive, and emotional recovery after delirium.