ReviewNursing in critical care2026
Delirium Research in Paediatric Intensive Care Units: A Bibliometric Analysis of Global Trends.
Review in Nursing in critical care, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
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.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundDelirium is a critical yet often under-recognized complication in paediatric intensive care units (PICUs), associated with adverse clinical outcomes and increased healthcare burden. A clearer understanding of the existing literature may help strengthen paediatric delirium care and guide future nursing-focused research.
aimTo map research trends and identify knowledge gaps in delirium research within paediatric intensive care settings to inform clinical practice and future research priorities. STUDY
designA bibliometric analysis was conducted using the Web of Science Core Collection, PubMed and Scopus. Records were retrieved using search terms related to delirium, paediatric populations and intensive or critical care settings. Only articles published between 2015 and 2025 were included. Analyses were performed using R, RStudio and the Bibliometrix package.
resultsA total of 532 articles were included. Publication output showed a steady increase, particularly after 2020. The United States was the most productive country, followed by China, Germany and Canada. Thematic trend mapping identified two dominant research domains: assessment-related research (e.g., screening tools, validity and risk factors) and clinical management (e.g., analgesia, prevention and pain). Emerging and underdeveloped areas included guideline implementation, nurse education and standardized delirium care protocols.
conclusionsThis study provides the first comprehensive bibliometric mapping of delirium research in paediatric intensive care settings, highlighting established research domains and critical gaps requiring further investigation. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Strengthening delirium screening, integrating evidence-based protocols, enhancing nurse education and promoting interdisciplinary collaboration may improve early detection and management of delirium in PICU settings.
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What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.