Improving ICU care for patients who speak languages other than English
Official title: Examination of Health Disparities in ICU Delirium Prevention and Management for Patients Who Speak A Language Other Than English
Funded at University of Washington · NIH-10995139 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how to better support non-English speaking patients in the ICU by making sure they get the right care and communication, so they can feel more comfortable and safe during their treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | July 16, 2024 |
| Project end | July 15, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $48,974 |
| NIH project number | 1F31NR021096-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10995139 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are critically ill patients in the ICU who speak a language other than English.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are fluent in English or those who are not critically ill may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on enhancing the prevention and management of delirium in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients who do not speak English. It aims to address health disparities by ensuring that these patients receive comprehensive care through the ABCDEF bundle, which includes pain assessment, sedation choices, and family engagement. The study will explore the barriers faced by non-English speaking patients in accessing these critical components of care, particularly the lack of professional medical interpreters. By identifying and addressing these barriers, the research seeks to improve health equity in critical care settings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better outcomes for non-English speaking ICU patients by ensuring they receive appropriate delirium prevention and management.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has highlighted the importance of effective communication in healthcare, suggesting that addressing language barriers can significantly improve patient outcomes.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Washington
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ahrens, Emily — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Ahrens, Emily
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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READI-SET-GO: Improving Delirium Screening for Hospitalized Older Adults
A hospital-based program tests how well routine nurse delirium screening using UB-CAM works when integrated into the electronic health record to improve outcomes for older patients.
-
Continuous wearable monitor with AI to prevent agitation and delirium in hospitalized older adults
A wearable sensor and AI system will continuously track agitation in older hospital patients to help prevent delirium and protect brain health.
-
Low brain changes from anesthesia may signal early Alzheimer's risk
A study at Stanford will look at whether brain responses to anesthesia during surgery reveal early brain changes linked to Alzheimer’s disease and delirium risk in people aged 65 and up.
-
Why dementia and sudden confusion (delirium) often happen together
This project looks at brain electrical signals and chemical changes to find why people with dementia sometimes develop sudden confusion called delirium.
-
AKI-related delirium after heart surgery
This grant funds research to understand why some people develop delirium after heart surgery when they also have acute kidney injury.
-
Lipocalin-2 and delirium after surgery in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias
A study at Duke University looks at how an inflammatory protein called lipocalin-2 may trigger delirium after surgery, especially in people at risk for Alzheimer’s and related dementias.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.