A Quality Assurance Study to Assess the One-Day Prevalence of Delirium in Elderly Hospitalized Patients

BACKGROUND: Research indicates that 40% of hospital-acquired delirium cases may be preventable. However, despite its clinical significance, delirium often goes unrecognized or is misdiagnosed. The purpose of this study was to assess the need for delirium education in acute care hospitals in Hamilton, Ontario. METHODS: Approximately 100 health professionals were trained as delirium screeners. On 'Delirium Day', all patients ≥ 65 years of age in …