Efficacy of Sensory Stimulation in Intensive Care Unit Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of sensory stimulation (SS) on the level of consciousness, the incidence and duration of ICU delirium, the awakening time, and the length of mechanical ventilation in ICU patients.

Materials and methods: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were identified through a comprehensive search across 7 digital databases. Two reviewers independently screened studies, extracted data, and assessed methodological quality using the Cochrane Risk-of-Bias Tool for Randomized Trials. In case of disagreement, a third author decided whether to include or exclude the article. Meta-analyses were conducted using RevMan V.5.3.5 software.

Results: A total of 22 RCTs involving 1,522 patients were included. Compared with routine care, SS improved the level of consciousness (MD: 2.09; 95% CI: 1.50 to 2.68; P < .001) and reduce the incidence (OR: 0.33; 95% CI: 0.18 to 0.62; P < .001) and duration of delirium (MD: -2.63; 95% CI: -3.32 to -2.03; P < .001) in ICU patients, shorten the Awakening time (MD: -7.39; 95% CI: -8.76 to -6.01; P < .001).

Conclusion: SS may improve the level of consciousness, reduce the incidence of delirium, and shorten the Awakening time in ICU patients. For improvement in the level of consciousness, subgroup analyses suggest that SS delivered by family members is more effective than that delivered by nurses, multisensory stimulation (MSS) is more effective than single-modality stimulation, and an intervention period of at least 7 days is required to achieve a significant effect, with twice-daily SS appearing to be the optimal frequency.