The Effect of Sedation Protocol on Sedation Level and Pharmacological and Non-Pharmacological Interventions on Mechanically Ventilated Patients

Background: The use of analgesics and sedatives to provide sedation for Patients in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is inevitable. The present study aimed to determine the effect of sedation protocol using the Richmond Agitation- Sedation Scale on sedation level and amount of pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions on patients under mechanical ventilation. Materials and Methods: This randomized clinical trial was conducted on 79 patients under mechanical ventilation in Zanjan. The patients were recruited using the blocking randomized sampling method. In the experiment group, the sedation was provided hourly, using the Richmond sedation Protocol, during the mechanical ventilation period. The level of sedation and pharmacological and nonpharmacological interventions were compared in the two groups using Fisher exact test. Results: Totally, 40 patients in the experiment and 39 patients in the control groups were evaluated. No significant difference was found between the two groups in terms of confounding variables (age, sex, level of consciousness, Acute Physiologic and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II criterion, underlying disease, and cause of hospitalization). The level of sedation in the experiment group was significantly closer to the ideal score of the Richmond Scale compared to the control group (p < 0.001). The experimental group received significantly more non-pharmacological interventions and fewer pharmacological interventions compared to the control group (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Using a sedation protocol could provide better sedation levels in patients under mechanical ventilation, and reduce the use of sedative medications, and consequently, the cost of hospitalization. Further research is suggested.