How Nurses Understand and Perceive Delirium in Older Adults?
Panita Limpawattana MD1, Krittanan Worawittayakit MD2, Pimolrat Paopongpaiboon MD2, Verajit Chotmongkol MD3, Manchumad Manjavong MD1, Kittisak Sawanyawisuth MD4, Roongtiva Chobchuen RN5, Jiraporn Pimporm RN6, Naluttaporn Suebsoh RN7, Wanaporn Eamma RN7
Affiliation : 1 Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand 2 Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand 3 Divison of Ambulatory Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand 4 Divison of Ambulatory Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand 5 Clinical service, Division of Nursing, Srinagarind Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand 6 Outpatient Department, Srinagarind Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand 7 Intensive Care Unit of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
Objective : Delirium is usually under-detected and under-treated. Understanding the barriers of this issue among nurse
practitioners is crucial in order to deliver effective educational strategies for delirium care. The objectives of the present study
were to examine knowledge and attitudes regarding delirium among them, and associated factors.
Materials and Methods : This is a cross-sectional study. The survey was conducted from October 1 to December 31, 2016.
Questionnaires were developed to evaluate the participants’ knowledge and attitudes regarding delirium. These were then
sent to the nurse practitioners who worked with and cared for older patients of Srinagarind Hospital, Thailand. The
completed questionnaires were returned to the researchers.
Results : A total of 407 out of 600 questionnaires were returned (67%). The median score on questions pertaining to
knowledge of delirium was 58.6%. Most respondents were knowledgeable about the prevalence and risk factors of delirium
(71.4%). They displayed modest knowledge regarding its importance (62.5%), treatment, and prevention (60%), but showed
poor knowledge regarding diagnosis (0%) of the condition. Factors associated with number of correct answers were increased
years of practice (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.04) and experience in geriatrics (AOD 3.21). The majority of respondents
agreed that delirium was a normal condition for hospitalized older patients and had little confidence in their ability to detect
and treat this condition.
Conclusion : Nurse practitioners displayed misperceptions and a lack of knowledge, as well as misperceptions regarding
delirium. Work experience and experience in geriatric medicine were significantly associated with better scores.
Keywords : Acute confusion state, Education, Older people, Questionnaire, Survey
