Infodemiological Assessment of Global Search Trends in ICU Delirium Prevention Following the 2025 SCCM PADIS Focused Update: A Google Trends Analysis (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Delirium is a common and serious complication in the intensive care unit, associated with poor outcomes. Recent guidelines, such as the 2025 SCCM PADIS Focused Update, have strengthened delirium prevention strategies (including dexmedetomidine use and the ABCDEF bundle). OBJECTIVE This study tests, using Google Trends data, whether guideline publications primarily influence general awareness or, more specifically, drive searches for clinical applications. It is hypothesised that specific prevention-related terms (e.g., “dexmedetomidine delirium,” “ABCDEF bundle”) will show sharper and more delayed increases compared to general delirium terms. METHODS Weekly Relative Search Interest data from Google Trends (Health category, worldwide) were analysed for the period from February 2021 to February 2026. The examined search terms included “dexmedetomidine delirium,” “ABCDEF bundle,” “delirium prevention ICU,” and “SCCM PADIS 2025.” A pre-post comparison was performed (pre: before July 2025 vs post: after July 2025), using the Mann-Whitney U test, Spearman rank correlation, and temporal matching. RESULTS In the pre-guideline period, prevention-related terms showed near-zero search interest (mean RSI