THE EFFECT OF FAMILY INVOLVEMENT ON COGNITIVE STATUS AND SEVERITY OF DELIRIUM IN ICU PATIENTS: AN INTERVENTIONAL STUDY

Background & Aims: The normal cognitive status of a person is impaired with age and in patients admitted to the ICU, this disorder causes severe complications such as delirium. Active participation of the family can be one of the factors affecting the cognitive status of patients admitted to ICU. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of family involvement on the cognitive status of patients admitted to the ICU of Khoy hospitals. Materials & Methods: This study was performed as an experimental intervention by random sampling using a two-week time block method on 60 patients admitted to the ICU of Khoy hospitals. In the intervention group, the effect of family participation for three days with a scheduled appointment in the morning and the evening on the cognitive status of patients admitted to the ICU was assessed. In the control group, the normal ward care was performed. The RASS scale was used to assess the level of agitation-sedation and the MMSE scale was used to determine the cognitive status. Data was analyzed using SPSS software version 17. Results: The results showed that the two groups were completely identical, and there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of age, sex, and education. The interaction effect of time and intervention on the mean scores of restlessness - drowsiness over time was significant (p <0.05) and the total score of MMSE criterion increased in the intervention group (23.40) compared to the control group (22.30) which was not statistically significant (p <0.05) Conclusion: According to the findings of the study, by increasing the number of visit days, the patients' cognitive status improved compared to before the intervention. Therefore, family involvement can be an effective and low-cost non-pharmacological method to prevent cognitive impairment and severe delirium in ICU patients.