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The 2026 World Delirium Awareness Day Survey: Findings From Turkish Intensive Care Units
Öznur Erbay Dalli1, Ebru Kiraner2,3
1Department of Internal Medicine Nursing, Bursa Uludag University Faculty of Health Sciences, Turkiye.
Background:
Delirium is a common and serious complication in intensive care units (ICUs) and is associated with adverse patient outcomes. World Delirium Awareness Day (WDAD), observed annually on the second Wednesday of March, provides a platform for international point prevalence studies to evaluate delirium burden and care practices across healthcare systems. Although WDAD studies have been conducted in numerous countries worldwide, no data from Turkiye have been reported to date.
Aim:
To determine the point prevalence of delirium and examine current delirium assessment practices, management strategies and barriers to evidence-based care in Turkish intensive care units on WDAD 2026.
Study Design:
A cross-sectional point prevalence study was conducted on 11 March 2026, using the standardised WDAD survey. Delirium prevalence was assessed at 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.
Results:
Representatives from 66 ICUs (52 adult and 14 paediatric) across seven geographical regions of Turkiye participated in the study. Among patients assessed for delirium, 30.8% tested positive at 8:00 a.m. (adult ICU: 32.2%; PICU: 25.0%) and 30.2% at 8:00 p.m. (adult ICU: 31.9%; PICU: 23.0%). The majority of units (87.9%) relied on clinical judgement for delirium assessment rather than validated screening tools. Written delirium protocols were present in only 30.3% of units. Dexmedetomidine was the most commonly used pharmacological agent (54.5%). Mobilisation was implemented in less than half of the units (43.9%). The most frequently reported barriers were missing knowledge (69.7%), attitude that delirium is not considered important (57.6%) and lack of awareness (50.0%).
Conclusion:
Routine use of validated delirium assessment tools, enhanced staff education and standardised protocol implementation are needed to improve delirium recognition and management in Turkish critical care settings.
Relevance To Clinical Practice:
These findings provide the first insights into delirium care practices in Turkish ICUs, highlighting the urgent need for structured education programmes, validated screening tools and national delirium care guidelines.