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The ICU Visits randomised clinical trial evaluated whether flexible family visitation could reduce delirium in adult ICU patients. Across 36 Brazilian ICUs, flexible visiting—up to 12 hours per day with family education—was compared with usual restricted visitation. The primary outcome was delirium incidence. Despite substantially longer family presence, delirium was not significantly reduced. This is clinically useful because it prevents an intuitive but unsupported assumption that more family presence alone will automatically prevent delirium. However, the intervention was associated with better anxiety and depression scores among family members. That finding matters in an ICU model built around humanisation: an intervention can have meaningful benefits even when the primary patient-centred outcome does not change. For HCPs, the lesson is to distinguish the goals of family visitation. Families may support orientation, communication, shared decisions and emotional wellbeing, but delirium prevention still requires a wider strategy that includes sleep, mobility, sedation optimisation and cognitive engagement. The study fits CritiCARE 2026's family-presence and humanisation themes while illustrating the importance of testing compassionate practices rather than assuming their effects. It is a good example of how patient outcomes and family outcomes should both be considered when designing ICU policies.

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The ICU Visits randomised clinical trial evaluated whether flexible family visitation could reduce delirium in adult ICU patients. Across 36 Brazilian ICUs, flexible visiting—up to 12 hours per day with family education—was compared with usual restricted visitation. The primary outcome was delirium incidence. Despite substantially longer family presence, delirium was not significantly reduced. This is clinically useful because it prevents an intuitive but unsupported assumption that more family presence alone will automatically prevent delirium. However, the intervention was associated with better anxiety and depression scores among family members. That finding matters in an ICU model built around humanisation: an intervention can have meaningful benefits even when the primary patient-centred outcome does not change. For HCPs, the lesson is to distinguish the goals of family visitation. Families may support orientation, communication, shared decisions and emotional wellbeing, but delirium prevention still requires a wider strategy that includes sleep, mobility, sedation optimisation and cognitive engagement. The study fits CritiCARE 2026's family-presence and humanisation themes while illustrating the importance of testing compassionate practices rather than assuming their effects. It is a good example of how patient outcomes and family outcomes should both be considered when designing ICU policies.
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