ArticleNursing in critical care2025
Patients' and family members' dyadic experience of post-operative delirium in the intensive care unit: A qualitative study.
Article in Nursing in critical care, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. Cited by 5 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
5 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Psychosocial coping with intensive care delirium: a mixed-methods systematic review of patient and family perspectives.Critical care (London, England) · 2026Pooled it
- A virtual reality-based multicomponent intervention program for preventing postoperative delirium in the intensive care unit for cardiac surgery patients: from evidence-based design to a pilot trial.Frontiers in medicine · 2026Article
- Unique Challenges of Shared Decision-Making in Colorectal Surgery for the Elderly Patient.Clinics in colon and rectal surgery · 2025Article
- Patients' and family members' dyadic experience of post-operative delirium in the intensive care unit: A qualitative study.Nursing in critical care · 2025Article
- Older Patients' Postoperative Neurocognitive Recovery: A Narrative Review.Clinical interventions in aging · 2025Review
Corrections and comments
- Erratum issued
Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundPost-operative delirium is a complication with long-lasting consequences for both patients and their families. This is particularly true for those transferred to the intensive care unit after surgery, where the incidence of post-operative delirium is high, and patient outcomes are often poor. Despite the acknowledged role of family engagement in delirium management, previous research has mainly focused on patients, with limited exploration of the shared experiences between patients and family members.
aimThis study aims to explore the experiences of patients and family members during episodes of post-operative delirium in the intensive care unit to better understand their unmet needs. STUDY
designA qualitative descriptive study was conducted at a tertiary general hospital. Eighteen pairs of patients, their family members and two other family members were interviewed. Data were collected through face-to-face semi-structured interviews within the first week after patients' discharge from the intensive care unit and analysed using thematic analysis.
resultsFour major themes emerged: (1) the dyadic relationship between patients and family members must be understood in the context of their shared emotional and behavioural experiences; (2) family's history may predispose patients to post-operative delirium; (3) family engagement may prevent the development of post-operative delirium; and (4) inadequate communication between health care providers and patients or families may negatively affect post-operative delirium outcomes.
conclusionsPost-operative delirium presents significant emotional and physical challenges for both patients and their families. Addressing these challenges requires improved communication between health care providers and families, as well as strategies that emphasize early family support and collaboration in care. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Patients and their families should be considered a unit during post-operative delirium management, and earlier family engagement is essential. Health care systems should adapt intensive care unit practices to meet the dynamic needs of families, promoting more comprehensive support during critical care.
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