Am J Crit Care

Familiar voices reduce ICU delirium in ventilated patients

November 5, 2025

This study provides high-quality evidence supporting Family Automated Voice Recording (FAVoR) as a simple, low-cost, and scalable strategy to reduce ICU delirium. By augmenting family presence through recorded voice messages, clinicians may improve patient outcomes without relying on pharmacologic interventions, which have shown limited efficacy.

Study details: This prospective, two-arm, blinded randomized trial (NCT03128671) evaluated the impact of FAVoR, a novel nonpharmacological intervention, on delirium in mechanically ventilated ICU patients. Conducted across nine ICUs in two South Florida hospitals, the study enrolled 178 adults between April 2018 and November 2020. Patients in the intervention group received hourly daytime playback of 10 standardized, two-minute recordings from a family member, designed to provide environmental orientation and reassurance. Delirium was assessed twice daily using the Confusion Assessment Method for the ICU tool, with assessors blinded to group assignment.

Results: Patients exposed to the FAVoR intervention had significantly more delirium-free days compared with those receiving usual care (P<0.001). A dose-response relationship was observed: more frequent message playback correlated with fewer delirium episodes (P<0.001).

Source:

Munro CL, et al. (2025, November 1). Am J Crit Care. Delirium Reduction via Scripted Family Voice Recordings in Critically Ill Patients Receiving Mechanical Ventilation. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41173649/