Grant: DRA : Canada Graduate Research Scholarship - Doctoral Program (CGRS D)

Delirium is a sudden state of confusion that often affects people who are very sick and in the hospital. It can cause frightening experiences such as nightmares, disorientation, and fear, and may lead to long-term problems with memory and thinking. Delirium also increases the time patients spend in the intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital, and raises the risk of death. Health care providers have tools to recognize delirium early, but these assessments are often missed or incomplete. When delirium goes unnoticed, patients and families are left without clear explanations for what is happening, which can add to their distress. Little is known about how often ICU teams in Northern Ontario identify delirium or the challenges they face in doing so. Most existing research comes from large urban hospitals and may not reflect the realities of smaller or more remote ICUs that care for diverse patient populations. This study will examine how delirium is detected and recorded in the adult ICU at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre in Northern Ontario. We will review patient charts to see how delirium assessments are documented and whether certain patient factors are associated with missed or inaccurate diagnoses. We will then explore these results further through interviews with ICU staff to learn about their experiences, barriers, and ideas for improvement. By understanding how ICU teams recognize delirium and what supports they need, this research will help improve patient safety and quality of care. The findings can guide education for health care providers, inform hospital policies, and strengthen care processes. Improving delirium recognition in Northern Ontario can lead to better patient recovery, greater family support, and more equitable care across Canada's health system.