Abstract :

Background: Confusion Assessment Method for Intensive Care Unit (CAM-ICU) is a widely accepted, easily available, and quick tool for assessment of delirium in ICU. Globally, multiple studies have been conducted to cross culturally translate and validate the tool to make it fit the local setting. However, to the best of our knowledge, it has not been cross-culturally translated and validated into Amharic. Therefore, this study aims to bridge this gap.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the Validity of the Amharic Version of Confusion Assessment Method for Intensive Care Unit (CAM-ICU) among patients admitted to adult ICU in two centers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Methods and materials: An institution based cross-sectional study was conducted at the intensive care unit of Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital and Menelik-II Hospital. A total of 132 eligible patients were included in this study. Data were collected by nurses and resident physicians using Google form from 1-December-2023 to 30-April-2024. Data analysis was performed using to SPSS V.27. Descriptive analyses were performed using frequency and percentage for categorical variables and mean with standard deviation for continuous variables. Reliability, inter-rater reliability (k), and acceptability of the tool were assessed.

Results: The Amharic version was translated by group of experts, including anesthesiologists, psychiatrists, language experts, and the primary investigator, ensuring content and face validity. A total of 132 patients participated in this study, with a response rate of 95.65%.  The Amharic version of CAM-ICU had high acceptance (100%), good reliability (Cronbach’s alpha=0.718), and substantial inter-rater agreement (k=0.762). 11 (8.3%) and 7(5.3%) of 132 patients were diagnosed with delirium by doctors and nurses, respectively, using CAM-ICU Amharic. Moreover, 7 of 132 patients (5.3%) were diagnosed with delirium concurrently by both physicians and nurses.

Conclusion: The Amharic version of CAM-ICU is an acceptable, valid, and reliable tool for delirium assessment in ICU. Utilization of CAM-ICU Amharic in clinical practice after provision of proper training would enable better detection of delirium in ICU.

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Keywords :

Amharic version, CAM-ICU, Delirium, Ethiopia, Menelik-II, TASH, Validation

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