Smyth, Wendy, Wright, Kelly, Burton, Sandra, and Murray, Helen (2015) Knowledge of delirium improves following staff education: results of a pre/post survey. Annals of the Australasian College of Tropical Medicine, 17 (1). p. 11.

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Abstract

Background/Aims: Delirium, a frequent complication of hospital admission, often remains undiagnosed. This may be related to a lack of staff knowledge about predisposing factors and other predictors of delirium. Education has improved staff knowledge and recognition of delirium; however, most of those studies have only assessed nurses' knowledge. This study aimed to measure delirium knowledge across members of a multi-disciplinary team working in two wards of The Townsville Hospital, where there is a high prevalence of patients with delirium, using a pre and post educational intervention.

Methods: A pre-/post-survey design was used. All doctors, nurses and allied health staff who worked in the two units were asked to complete a paper questionnaire before and after the multifaceted educational intervention.

Results: One hundred and fifty-one staff completed questionnaires. Of the 39 staff who completed questionnaires both pre- and post- the education, there were statistically significant improvements in their total overall knowledge about dementia post-education (M=21.31, SD=2.58) compared to pre-education (M=17.75, SD=4.83), t(36)=-5.96, p<0.001. The mean increase in knowledge scores was 3.56 [95% confidence interval 2.34-4.77]. The eta squared statistic (0.50) indicated a large effect size. There were also statistically significant improvements on knowledge and risk factor sub-scales, and fewer uncertain responses given following the education.

Conclusion: The educational intervention improved overall knowledge of delirium among a multidisciplinary team. Not all respondents completed both pre and post surveys. A similar study is underway with a more structured educational intervention for nurses working in another health service.

Item ID:	40873
Item Type:	Article (Abstract)
ISSN:	1448-4706
Related URLs:	Publisher
Date Deposited:	27 Oct 2015 02:56
FoR Codes:	11 MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES > 1199 Other Medical and Health Sciences > 119999 Medical and Health Sciences not elsewhere classified @ 100%
SEO Codes:	92 HEALTH > 9299 Other Health > 929999 Health not elsewhere classified @ 100%
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