Impact of a delirium screening tool and multifaceted education on nurses' knowledge of delirium and ability to evaluate it correctly.
BACKGROUND
The impact of using a validated delirium screening tool and different levels of education on surgical-trauma intensive care unit (STICU) nurses' knowledge about delirium is unclear.


OBJECTIVE
To measure the impact of using the Intensive Care Delirium Screening Checklist (ICDSC), with or without a multi-faceted education program, on STICU nurses' knowledge and perceptions of delirium and their ability to evaluate it correctly.


METHODS
The knowledge and perceptions of subject nurses about delirium, and agreement between the independent assessments of delirium by the subject nurse and by a validated judge (who always used the ICDSC), were compared across 3 phases. Phase 1: No delirium screening tool and no education. Phase 2: ICDSC and minimal education (ie, ICDSC validation study only). Phase 3: ICDSC and multifaceted education (ie, pharmacist-led didactic lecture, Web-based module, and nurse-led bedside training).


RESULTS
Nurses' knowledge (mean [SD] score out of 10 points) was similar (P = .08) in phase 1 (6.1 [1.4]) and phase 2 (6.5 [1.4]) but was greater (P = .001) in phase 3 (8.2 [1.4]). Agreement between nurses and the validated judge in the assessment of delirium increased from phase 1 (κ = 0.40) to phase 2 (κ = 0.62) to phase 3 (κ = 0.74). Nurses perceived use of the ICDSC as improving their ability to recognize delirium.


CONCLUSIONS
Use of a multifaceted education program improves both nurses' knowledge about delirium and their perceptions about its recognition. Implementation of the ICDSC improves the ability of STICU nurses to evaluate delirium correctly.
Division of Trauma and Surgical Critical Care, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, North Carolina 28232, USA. gail.gesin@carolinashealthcare.org
Gail
G
Gesin
Brittany B
BB
Russell
Andrew P
AP
Lin
H James
HJ
Norton
Susan L
SL
Evans
John W
JW
Devlin
D000328:Adult; D057189:Checklist; D003693:Delirium / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D009657:North Carolina; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education*