The Effect Of The Training Program On Nursing Staff Knowledge Regarding Delirium In The Elderly

Abstract

Background: Delirium is a growing public health problem as it is associated with various negative outcomes that burden patients, families, and the healthcare system among geriatric patients.

Aim: To determine the effect of a training programme on nursing staff knowledge regarding delirium in the elderly. Design: A quasi-experimental design (Pre-Posttest) was used to carry out this study.

Setting: The study was conducted at medical and surgical units, operation units, and intensive care units at Damanhour National Medical Institute in El-Beheira Governorate in Egypt.

Subjects: All nurses (n = 30 nurses) working in the previously mentioned setting comprised the study sample.

Tools of data collection: Tool I: Structured interview schedule about socio-demographic characteristics

Tool II: Delirium Knowledge Questionnaire

Result: The age of the studied nurses ranged from 30–48 years, with a mean age of 37.73 ± 5.13 years. Statistically significant differences were observed among knowledge about the presentation, symptoms, and outcomes of delirium before and after the educational program (P = 0.000). Statistically significant differences were observed among the knowledge about causes and risk factors of delirium before and after the implementation of the educational programme (P = 0.000). More than half of the studied nurses had a moderate level of total knowledge about delirium before programme implementation compared to the majority of nurses who had good total knowledge about delirium after programme implementation. Statistically significant differences were observed among the total knowledge about delirium before and after the implementation of the educational program. The nurses' knowledge of delirium was highly improved after the implementation of the educational programme about delirium, and it had a clear effect on the nurses.

Recommendations: Delirium assessment should be integrated into daily nursing care. In addition, more research is needed on the prevention of delirium, especially in critically ill patients.