Nurses' Knowledge and Practices Regarding Delirium Management in Intensive Care Units in Cyprus: A Cross-Sectional...

Area of Science:

• Critical Care Medicine
• Nursing Science
• Patient Safety

Background:

• Delirium is a common and severe complication in intensive care units (ICUs).
• It is linked to increased mortality, longer hospital stays, and long-term cognitive issues.
• Effective delirium management is vital for patient outcomes in critical care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the knowledge and practices of ICU nurses in Cyprus concerning delirium management.
• To identify factors influencing nurses' knowledge of delirium.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study was conducted with 70 ICU nurses in Cyprus.
• Data were gathered using self-administered questionnaires on demographics, sedation/analgesia practices, and delirium knowledge.
• The Delirium Knowledge Questionnaire was adapted for ICU-specific items.

Main Results:

• Most nurses (60%) were female with over 5 years of ICU experience.
• Only 27.1% performed daily delirium screening, despite 65.2% recognizing its frequency.
• Moderate to high knowledge scores (68.5-84.0%) were observed, higher in those with prior training (p=0.003).
• Formal delirium training was received by only 15.7%, with 87.1% desiring more education.
• Sedation protocols were used by 34.3%, scales by 44.3%, and daily interruption by 61.4%.

Conclusions:

• ICU nurses in Cyprus possess moderate delirium knowledge but require improved systematic screening and protocolized management.
• Structured educational programs and standardized implementation strategies are essential for enhancing patient safety.
• Further training is needed to address knowledge gaps and improve delirium care practices.