Combined didactic and scenario-based education improves the ability of intensive care unit staff to recognize delirium at the bedside

2008

Education Improves ICU Nurses' Ability to Recognize Delirium

Sample size: 50 publication Evidence: high

Author Information

Author(s): Devlin John W, Marquis Francois, Riker Richard R, Robbins Tracey, Garpestad Erik, Fong Jeffrey J, Didomenico Dorothy, Skrobik Yoanna

Primary Institution: School of Pharmacy, Northeastern University

Does a simple educational intervention improve ICU nurses' ability to recognize delirium?

A simple educational intervention significantly improves ICU nurses' ability to screen for delirium.

Only 24% of nurses recognized delirium before education, which increased to 100% after.
The use of a validated delirium screening tool rose from 12% to 82% post-education.
Self-reported evaluations of delirium did not significantly change despite objective improvements.

Teaching nurses how to recognize delirium better helps them do their job, making it easier to spot when patients are confused.

50 ICU nurses evaluated patients for delirium before and after an educational intervention involving case scenarios and a presentation.

Nurses with prior experience using a validated delirium screening tool were not excluded.

The study was not powered to evaluate pain or sedation assessments, and the sustainability of the educational benefits was not confirmed.

Nurses had an average of 14.4 years of experience; patients had an average age of 52 years.

<0.0005

p<0.0005

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