Effect of Eye Mask and Earplugs on Prevention of Delirium in Intensive Care Patients

In the prevention of delirium, the necessity of using a multicomponent, nonpharmacological interventions is emphasized and focused on nursing interventions. In this regard, it is believed that the use of eye mask and ear plugs, which have recently started to take place in the guides, as well as known evidence-based nursing interventions, will provide nurses with power to improve delirium-related outcomes.

The research is expected to consist of intervention and control groups older than 18, volunteering to participate in the research, which the expected length of stay in the ICU more than 24 hours at Başkent University Ankara Hospital. Data will be collected through Patient Information Form, APACHE II, Glasgow Coma Scale, Richmond Sedation Agitation Scale, Nursing-Delirium Screening Scale, Richard-Campbell Sleep Scale and Daily Monitoring Form. In preparation step of the research, nurses will be trained, guidelines are required for nurses, necessary interventions will be planned. At the application stage , after determining the experimental and control groups, eye mask and ear plugs will be given before going to sleep in addition to the patients in the experimental group, before going to sleep, and followed for three days. Also, it will be examined through a semi-structured interview technique for the examination of patients in the experimental group.It is believed that the early diagnosis of delirium, nonpharmacological interventions to be implemented will affect the diagnosis-treatment costs positively by reducing morbidity and mortality rates.