Reuter-Rice Submits WFPICCS Application

Kudos to Karin Reuter-Rice, associate professor, and her entire team for the submission of her World Federation of Pediatric Intensive & Critical Care Services (WFPICCS) application entitled “Environmental Sensors in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit: Examining the Relationship of Light and Sound to Pediatric Sleep and Delirium Risk." This proposal requests funding for a one-year period with a start date of Feb. 1, 2019.

The pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) patients are at increased risk for sleep disruption as a result of care activities, medical devices, treatments, and sensory stimuli such as light and sound. Sleep disruption in children is associated with poor overall health outcomes. Sleep disruption has also now been recognized as a contributor to pediatric delirium. Delirium is a prevalent problem in the PICU with up to 30% of the PICU patients experience delirium. If not recognized and treated appropriately, delirium is associated with increased length of hospital stays, increased medical care costs, and increased hospital mortality. Delirium is described as restlessness, experiencing illusions, and incoherent thought and speech. The treatment for delirium typically includes additional sedative medications with non-pharmacologic approaches such as sleep promotion and light-sound reduction. However, there is no literature regarding the role of commercial environmental sensors in the PICU to better appreciate light and sound impact on pediatric sleep and delirium.

This novel project aims to Aim 1: To collect continuous environment data (light and sound) from commercial (ServersCheck™) sensors placed at each PICU bedside. Aim 2: To examine the relationships among the environmental data (light and sound) and sleep in PICU patients. Aim 3: Examine the relationship between environmental data (light and sound) and its relationship to delirium scores; sub-aim 3a examine that those relationships to sedation-analgesic medication use. Measuring the environment could lead to addressing the incidence of sleep-disrupted delirium, improve overall health, reduce morbidity, costs and length of PICU hospitalization.