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Review
. 2025 Dec:91:104124.
doi: 10.1016/j.iccn.2025.104124. Epub 2025 Jun 14.

Expert consensus on research priorities for the prevention of delirium in adult ICU patients

Stef Beerens  1 , Laurens Van Steenkiste  1 , Ingrid Egerod  2 , Thomas Gargadennec  3 , Mu-Hsing Ho  4 , Peter Nydahl  5 , Jessica A Palakshappa  6 , Brenda Pun  7 , Louise Rose  8 , Mark van den Boogaard  9 , Bart Van Rompaey  10 , Bradley Wibrow  11 , Sonia O Labeau  12 , Stijn Blot  13
Affiliations
Review

Expert consensus on research priorities for the prevention of delirium in adult ICU patients

Stef Beerens et al. Intensive Crit Care Nurs. 2025 Dec.

Abstract

Objective: To identify research priorities for the prevention of delirium in adult intensive care unit (ICU) patients.

Research methodology: We conducted an iterative, consensus-based modified Delphi methodology combined with initial literature search to establish a prioritized research agenda. As a first round of an anonymised modified Delphi procedure, a 10-member international expert panel, selected on basis of their academic and clinical expertise, were asked to add topics they perceived missing from a list of potential research gaps regarding ICU delirium prevention. In the second round, experts rated each topic research priority using a 4-point Likert scale (very low to very high). Topics were considered a research priority if rated 'high' or 'very high' by at least 80% of experts. A third round to establish a top 3 was planned if more than 10 priorities were identified.

Main outcome measures: Research priorities for delirium prevention in adult ICU patients.

Results: The evidence-based list comprised 44 potential research priorities with experts suggesting 9 additional topics. Of the 53 potential research priorities, 8 were unanimously rated as research priorities: 'early mobilization', 'exercise interventions', 'sedation breaks for ventilator weaning', 'routine delirium surveillance', 'cognitive training/exercise', 'reducing light, noise, and care activities at night', 'open visiting hours', and 'family participation'.

Conclusions: We have identified 8 research priorities for delirium prevention in adult ICU patients.

Implications for clinical practice: The research agenda developed in this study provides direction for future investigations into delirium prevention in ICU patients. By highlighting expert-endorsed priorities, it supports a more focused allocation of research efforts and funding. The findings may inform the development of targeted, evidence-based prevention strategies, ultimately contributing to improved clinical outcomes in critical care settings.

Keywords: Delirium; Intensive Care Unit; Modified Delphi Procedure; Prevention; Research Agenda; Research Priorities.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper. Stijn Blot is Editor-in-Chief forIntensive & Critical Care Nursingand was not involved in the editorial review or the decision to publish this article. Mark van den Boogaard and Mu-Hsing Ho are Associate-Editors forIntensive & Critical Care Nursingand were not involved in the editorial review or the decision to publish this article.