Table 1

AGREE II initial ‘rigour’ domain scores for delirium clinical practice guidelines (published 2008–2013)

Clinical practice guideline nameGuideline development groupYear of publicationCountry/languageDatabase sourceTarget patient populationInitial Rigour domain score
Delirium: diagnosis, preventionNational Clinical Guideline Centre (NCGC): Commissioned by National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)2010England: EnglishGrey literature, TRIP; Guideline summary (NGC): TRIPAdult patients ≥18 years in a hospital setting and long-term residential care91%
and management. Clinical Guideline 103 (CG103)38
Clinical practice guidelines for the management of pain, agitation and delirium in adult patients in the intensive care unit45The American College of2013USA: EnglishMedline, EMBASE, CINAHL; Guideline summary (NGC): TRIPIntubated and non-intubated adult medical, surgical and trauma intensive care unit patients58%
Critical Care Medicine task force
Caregiving strategies for older adults with delirium, dementia and depression46Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO)2010 update (Original: 2004)Canada: EnglishGrey literature, TRIP; Guideline summary (NGC): TRIPOlder adults ≥65 years with delirium, dementia and/or depression55%
Guideline on the assessment and treatment of delirium in older adults at the end of life47Canadian Coalition for Seniors' Mental Health (CCSMH)2010Canada: EnglishGrey literatureOlder adults ≥65 years with or at risk of developing delirium and approaching the end of life54%
Screening for delirium, dementia and depression in older adults48Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO)2010 update (Original: 2003)Canada: EnglishGrey literature, TRIP; Guideline summary (NGC): TRIPOlder adult clients48%
Cancer Care Ontario's Symptom management guide-to-practice: Delirium49Cancer Care Ontario (CCO)2010Canada: EnglishGrey literatureAdult patients who require symptom management related to cancer43%
Acute Confusion/Delirium50Sendelbach S, Finch Guthrie P. (University of Iowa College of Nursing)2009USA: EnglishHand search; Guideline summary (NGC): TRIPElderly hospitalised patients (general medical/surgical units)42%
Evidence and consensus-based German guidelines for the management of analgesia, sedation and delirium in intensive care51Association of Scientific Medical Societies (AWMF) of Germany2010Germany: English (Original version)/GermanMedlineCritically ill patients21%
Palliative Care. NCCN Guidelines52National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN)2013USA: EnglishGrey literatureAdult cancer patients9%
Clinical guideline: The prevention, recognition and management of delirium in adult inpatients53Guy's and St. Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust2013England: EnglishHand searchHospitalised adult patients9%
British Columbia guidelines: Palliative care for the patient with incurable cancer or advanced disease. Part 2: Pain and symptom management. Delirium management54Family Practice Oncology Network and the Guidelines and Protocols Advisory Committee2011Canada: EnglishGrey literature; Guideline summary (NGC): TRIPPatients with cancer or advanced disease3%
  • NGC, National Guideline Clearinghouse; TRIP, Turning Research into Practice.