What Do Pediatric Intensive Care Nurses Know About Pediatric Delirium?
Gülçin Korkmaz Yenice1, Figen Işik Esenay2, Tufan Asli Sezer2
1Gülçin Korkmaz Yeni̇ce, Department of Nursing, Yozgat Bozok University Akdağmadeni High School, Akdağmadeni, Turkey.
Dimensions of Critical Care Nursing : DCCN
|January 23, 2026
Summary
Pediatric intensive care unit nurses lack knowledge on delirium risk factors and assessment. Training is crucial for early detection and management of this common pediatric disorder.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric critical care nursing
- Pediatric intensive care
- Delirium research
Background:
- Pediatric delirium significantly impacts children's psychomotor activity, sleep, emotions, perception, attention, and consciousness.
- It is frequently observed in pediatric intensive care units (PICUs).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate nurses' knowledge regarding pediatric delirium.
- To assess current delirium monitoring and assessment practices among PICU nurses.
Main Methods:
- A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted with 71 nurses in Ankara, Turkey.
- Data collection utilized an online survey comprising a Descriptive Information Form and a Pediatric Delirium Knowledge Assessment Questionnaire.
Main Results:
- A large majority of nurses (80.3%) had no delirium training and (88.3%) did not assess for delirium.
- Many nurses incorrectly identified risk factors (e.g., urinary catheters, mechanical ventilators, congenital heart disease) and held misconceptions about delirium's presentation (e.g., always hyperactive, short duration, ignoring sleep-wake cycle changes).
- Some nurses recognized potential preventive interventions like early mobilization and pain assessment.
Conclusions:
- Nurses in Turkish PICUs exhibit substantial knowledge deficits concerning pediatric delirium risk factors, symptoms, and management.
- Recommendations include implementing training programs, utilizing validated assessment tools, and developing evidence-based guidelines for early detection and improved management of pediatric delirium.
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