How do doctors and nurses manage delirium in intensive care units? A qualitative study using focus groups.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of doctors and nurses caring for patients with delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU) and to describe the process of delirium management. Setting: This study was performed in 5 ICUs located within 4 hospitals in Madrid (Spain). Participants: Purposeful sampling was performed which included (1) doctors and nurses working in ICUs, (2) with >1 year experience in the ICU and (3) clinical experience with delirium. 38 professionals participated (19 doctors, 19 nurses), including 22 women and 16 men. The total mean age was 39 years. Design: A qualitative study using focus groups. Methods: 7 focus groups were held to collect data: 3 nurse focus groups, 3 doctor focus groups and 1 mixed focus group. Each group comprised 6–10 participants. A semistructured questions guide was used. Thematic analysis methods were used to analyse the data. Results: 3 themes were identified: (1) the professional perspective on delirium; (2) imple...