Effectiveness of Personalised Auditory Stimuli in Managing Critically Ill Adult Comatose Patients: A Systematic Review

Varghese, R; Wojcik, G; Baruah, R; Rayamajhi, S; Breen, C

Abstract

Background
Comatose patients face significant challenges, including sensory disorders, long-term immobility, and reduced quality of life. 1,2 The limited sensory stimulation in the intensive care unit (IC) increases the risk of sensory isolation, which can negatively affect cognitive and mental functioning of these patients. 3 Addressing this lack of sensory input is critical for patient recovery, a continuous process that begins in the ICU and extends into community-based care.2 The evidence is gap lies in the limited research on whether personalised auditory stimuli reduce sensory deprivation and improve recovery outcomes in critically ill adult comatose patients.

Objective
This systematic review aims to address this gap by evaluating the effectiveness of personalised auditory stimuli in managing critically ill adult comatose patients.

Methods
A systematic search will be conducted using PubMed, MEDLINE via EBSCO, Embase, Web of Science, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Ovid Emcare, Ovid Nursing, SciTech Premium Collection, IEEE, and supplemented using Google Scholar, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) and the ClinicalTrials.gov register. We will include peer-reviewed papers published between 2014-2024, reporting randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and feasibility and pilot RCT studies involving adult comatose patients (>18 years) in critical care, comparing personalised auditory stimuli to standard care. Data will be extracted using a customised form and assessed for quality with the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool.4 The review protocol was registered on PROSPERO: CRD42024628823.

Expected Results and Conclusion
This review will provide key insights into the impact of personalised auditory stimuli on critically ill comatose patients and guide a future feasibility trial.

Citation

Varghese, R., Wojcik, G., Baruah, R., Rayamajhi, S., & Breen, C. (2025, May). Effectiveness of Personalised Auditory Stimuli in Managing Critically Ill Adult Comatose Patients: A Systematic Review. Poster presented at SICS 2025, Crieff

• Presentation Conference Type: Poster
• Conference Name: SICS 2025
• Start Date: May 1, 2025
• End Date: May 2, 2025
• Deposit Date: Apr 15, 2025
• Peer Reviewed: Not Peer Reviewed
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/4239335
• External URL: https://www.scottishintensivecare.org.uk/events/sics-2025/