iCAM-ICU: intelligent Confusion Assessment Method for the Intensive Care Unit

2021

An information-technology-enabled CAM-ICU workflow evaluated with both nurse researchers and bedside nurses in China. It is a digital implementation version of CAM-ICU, not an independent delirium instrument family.

At a glance

Purpose: Episodic assessment
Population: Adult
Setting: Intensive care
Time: embedded routine ICU assessment; exact completion time not reported in the validation abstract
Score or threshold: Positive iCAM-ICU classification according to the embedded CAM-ICU pathway

Format: iCAM-ICU standardises data collection and guides CAM-ICU classification electronically. Because it implements CAM-ICU, the exact feature prompts and decision logic should be obtained from authorised materials and the study source.

Training and instructions

Public training resources have not yet been confirmed in this review. Check the linked developer or original source for instructions.

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Tool and original sources

This record describes a method rather than a downloadable bedside form. The main source is linked below.

Original paper

Original paperYang F, Ji M, Wu Y, Feng Y, Li J, Ren D, et al. Delirium screening for patients in the intensive care unit: A prospective validation study of the iCAM-ICU by nurse researchers and bedside nurses in routine practice. International journal of nursing studies. 2021;117:103886. doi: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2021.103886. PMID: 33631399.
This paper reports the original validation of iCAM-ICU. It reported sensitivity of 95.2% and specificity of 93.3% against independent expert delirium reference diagnosis.
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One DTA study identifiedVersion or adaptation

Classification

Episodic assessment Use in intensive care units

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Evidence

Diagnostic-accuracy evidenceOne DTA study identified

Reported sensitivity and specificity

Headline metric source

Original/source study · 2021; pmid:33631399

Denominator: Reported source unit: 181 (analysis unit not fully reconciled)
Reference standard: Independent expert delirium reference diagnosis

95.2%

Sensitivity

93.3%

Specificity

Earliest DTA evaluation identified in the current audit; see the linked source and methodological caveats.

More evidence and citation details

Full name: intelligent Confusion Assessment Method for the Intensive Care Unit
Also known as: integrated CAM-ICU
Related profiles: CAM-ICU
Evidence summary: single-prospective-two-phase-DTA
Diagnostic-accuracy evaluations: 1
Reference standard: Independent expert delirium reference diagnosis
Citation: Yang F, Ji M, Wu Y, Feng Y, Li J, Ren D, Ely EW Delirium screening for patients in the intensive care unit: A prospective validation study of the iCAM-ICU by nurse researchers and bedside nurses in routine practice International journal of nursing studies. 2021;117:103886. PMID 33631399

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Primary validation studies

Distinct primary publications from the current diagnostic-accuracy audit. Reviews and repeated evaluations within one paper are not counted again. Overlapping cohorts have not all been reconciled. Read the counting rules and limitations.

Open 1 identified paper

Yang F, Ji M, Wu Y, Feng Y, Li J, Ren D, Ely EW (2021). Delirium screening for patients in the intensive care unit: A prospective validation study of the iCAM-ICU by nurse researchers and bedside nurses in routine practice. International journal of nursing studies.
Reference category: independent clinical reference.

Information checked: 2026-07-19

Instrument-specific terms apply. See the access and copyright policy or send a correction.

Base clinical review: 2026-07-29. Instrument description source check: 2026-09-05. Scope and limitations.

iCAM-ICU: intelligent Confusion Assessment Method for the Intensive Care Unit

At a glance

Primary validation papers

Large-scale clinical implementation