Conditions of Delirium Prevention Care Provided to Older Adults by Nurses on Admission to Acute Hospitals

Abstract

  The purpose of this study is to identify the conditions of delirium prevention care that nurses provide to elderly adults upon admission to acute hospitals and find suggestions regarding delirium prevention care education and practice. We conducted an anonymous, self-administered questionnaire survey of 459 acute hospital nurses. Responses were received from 282 nurses (collection rate 61.4%), of which 259 responses were subjected to analysis (91.8% of responses collected). Among these 259 nurses, 90% had provided delirium care within a month preceding the survey and understood the risk factors for delirium and the necessity of delirium prevention care. On the other hand, the number of participants who received training related to dementia and delirium and the number of conferences held were low. Among delirium upon admission prevention methods, the reproduction of a familiar environment, reminiscence therapy, and foot baths or massages before bedtime were implemented by fewer than 40% of the respondents, and they found it difficult to provide this care. It was suggested that support is needed to create well-defined preventive care methods and organization-wide efforts for delirium prevention care so that nurses at acute hospitals can effectively implement this care upon admission.