Improving hospital environments to reduce delirium in older adults

Modifying the Inpatient Environment to Reduce the Incidence and Burden of Delirium Among Hospitalized Older Adults (≥70 Years).

NA · The Methodist Hospital Research Institute · NCT06736951

This study is testing if improving the hospital environment to help older adults sleep better can reduce the chances of them developing delirium while they're hospitalized.

Quick facts

PhaseNA
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment10890 (estimated)
Ages70 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorThe Methodist Hospital Research Institute (other)
Locations5 sites (Baytown, Texas and 4 other locations)
Trial IDNCT06736951 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study aims to reduce the incidence of delirium in hospitalized older adults (aged 70 and above) by modifying the inpatient environment to enhance sleep hygiene. The investigators will implement a multi-modal sleep hygiene (MMSH) bundle across 11 nursing units in four Methodist hospitals, comparing its effectiveness against standard delirium prevention protocols. The study will utilize a randomized step-wedge cluster design and will also evaluate the implementation process to identify barriers and facilitators. The primary outcomes include the rate of incident delirium and the delirium burden index among participants.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are non-critically ill patients aged 70 years and older who are admitted to the participating clinical units.

Not a fit: Patients with active alcohol or substance withdrawal, acute psychiatric illness, or those initially admitted to intensive care units will not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could significantly lower the rates of delirium in older hospitalized patients, improving their overall health outcomes and quality of care.

How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown success with similar sleep-focused interventions, indicating potential for this approach to be effective.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria:

* Non-critically ill patients (≥70 years)
* All sexes
* All races and ethnicities
* Admitted to the pre-specified clinical units which are part of the study

Exclusion criteria (applied during analysis):

* Patients with active alcohol or substance withdrawal.
* Patients with acute psychiatric illness
* Patients with initial admission to intensive care unit including requirement for mechanical ventilation.
* Patients present on a unit at the time of unit randomization

Where this trial is running

Baytown, Texas and 4 other locations

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.

View on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Conditions: Delirium, Sleep Hygiene

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.