title: Improvement of care for ICU patients with delirium by early screening and treatment: study protocol of iDECePTIvE study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Delirium in critically ill patients has a strong adverse impact on prognosis. In spite of its recognized importance, however, delirium screening and treatment procedures are often not in accordance with current guidelines. This implementation study is designed to assess barriers and facilitators for guideline adherence and next to develop a multifaceted tailored implementation strategy. Effects of this strategy on guideline adherence as well as important clinical outcomes will be described.
  
  
  METHODS
  Current practices and guideline deviations will be assessed in a prospective baseline measurement. Barriers and facilitators will be identified from a survey among intensive care health care professionals (intensivists and nurses) and focus group interviews with selected health care professionals (n=60). Findings will serve as a foundation for a tailored guideline implementation strategy. Adherence to the guideline and effects of the implementation strategies on relevant clinical outcomes will be piloted in a before-after study in six intensive care units (ICUs) in the southwest Netherlands. The primary outcomes are adherence to screening and treatment in line with the Dutch ICU delirium guideline. Secondary outcomes are process measures (e.g. attendance to training and knowledge) and clinical outcomes (e.g. incidence of delirium, hospital-mortality changes, and length of stay). Primary and secondary outcome data will be collected at four time points including at least 924 patients. Furthermore, a process evaluation will be done, including an economical evaluation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Little is known on effective implementation of delirium management in the critically ill. The proposed multifaceted implementation strategy is expected to improve process measures such as screening adherence in line with the guideline and may improve clinical outcomes, such as mortality and length of stay. This ICU Delirium in Clinical Practice Implementation Evaluation study (iDECePTIvE-study) will generate important knowledge for ICU health care providers on how to improve their clinical practice to establish optimum care for delirious patients.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Clinical Trials NCT01952899.
authors.forename: Erwin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ista
authors.forename: Zoran
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Trogrlic
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bakker
authors.forename: Robert Jan
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Osse
authors.forename: Theo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: van Achterberg
authors.forename: Mathieu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: van der Jagt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D003422:Critical Care / Q000191:economics / Q000941:ethics / Q000592:standards*; D016638:Critical Illness / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D003693:Delirium / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D017144:Focus Groups; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000191:economics / Q000941:ethics / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D009426:Netherlands; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011446:Prospective Studies; D058996:Quality Improvement / Q000191:economics / Q000941:ethics