Table 2 Descriptive Statistics of Delirium Knowledge Questionnaire (DKQ) in Nursing Students Pre/Post-Test (n = 298)
DKQ Item | Pre-Test Score (% Correct Answers) | Post-Test Score (% Correct Answers) | +/− Difference (% Correct Answers) |
|---|---|---|---|
A. Items related to knowledge about the presentation, symptoms, and outcomes of delirium | |||
1. Fluctuation between orientation and disorientation is a typical feature of delirium (T) | 96.64% | 99.26% | + 2.62% |
2. Symptoms of depression may mimic delirium (T) | 78.04% | 93.63% | + 15.59% |
3. Patients never remember episodes of delirium (F) | 77.70% | 90.60% | + 12.90% |
4. Delirium never lasts for more than a few hours (F) | 94.93% | 96.22% | + 1.29% |
5. A patient who is lethargic and difficult to rouse does certainly not have a delirium (F) | 88.85% | 96.60% | + 7.75% |
6. Patients with delirium are always physically and/or verbally aggressive (F) | 95.95% | 97.74% | + 1.79% |
7. Patients with delirium have a higher mortality rate (T) | 62.16% | 92.08% | + 29.92% |
8. Behavioural changes in the course of the day are typical of delirium (T) | 94.58% | 96.96% | + 2.38% |
9. A patient with delirium is likely to be easily distracted and/or have difficulty following a conversation (T) | 96.27% | 98.48% | + 2.21% |
10. Patients with delirium will often experience perceptual disturbances (e.g. visual and/or auditory hallucinations) (T) | 98.31% | 99.62% | + 1.31% |
Section A Overall Score | 88.34% | 96.12% | 7.78% |
B. Items related to knowledge about causes and risk factors of delirium | |||
11. A patient admitted with pneumonia and having diabetes, visual and auditory disturbances has the same risk for delirium as a patient admitted with pneumonia without co-morbidities (T) | 71.53% | 75.67% | + 4.14% |
12. The risk for delirium increases with age (T) | 82.71% | 97.35% | + 14.64% |
13. A patient with impaired vision is at increased risk of delirium (T) | 38.98% | 82.13% | + 43.15% |
14. The greater the number of medications a patient is taking, the greater their risk of delirium (T) | 86.39% | 96.20% | + 9.81% |
15. A urinary catheter reduces the risk of delirium (F) | 86.05% | 90.49% | + 4.44% |
16. Poor nutrition increases the risk of delirium (T) | 91.84% | 98.10% | + 6.26% |
17. Dementia is an important risk factor for delirium (T) | 94.56% | 95.06% | + 0.50% |
18. Diabetes is an important risk factor for delirium (F) | 14.97% | 54.20% | + 39.23% |
19. Dehydration can be a risk factor for delirium (T) | 96.94% | 99.23% | + 2.29% |
20. Delirium is generally caused by alcohol withdrawal (F) | 81.97% | 85.06% | + 3.09% |
21. A family history of dementia predisposes a patient to delirium (F) | 38.70% | 57.85% | + 19.15% |
Section B Overall Score | 71.33% | 84.67% | + 13.34% |
Items related to knowledge about delirium prevention and management strategies | |||
22. Treatment of delirium always includes sedation (F) | 91.44% | 95.79% | + 4.35% |
23. Daily use of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) is the best way for diagnosing delirium (F) | 22.26% | 71.26% | + 49.00% |
24. Providing as much staff as possible to take care at the patients’ bedside is an important strategy in the prevention of delirium (F) | 71.13% | 84.23% | + 13.10% |
25. The use of physical restraints in patients at risk for delirium is the best way to ensure their safety (F) | 95.19% | 97.69% | + 2.50% |
26. Encouraging patients to (correctly) wear their visual/hearing aids is necessary to prevent delirium (T) | 75.60% | 94.62% | + 19.02% |
27. Adequate hydration is an important strategy in the prevention of delirium (T) | 98.97% | 100.00% | + 1.03% |
28. The maintenance of a normal sleep-wake cycle (e.g., avoidance of sleep interruption) is an important strategy in the prevention of delirium (T) | 98.28% | 98.84% | + 0.56% |
29. The use of haloperidol in preoperative surgical fracture patients is a way to prevent delirium (T) | 48.97% | 73.36% | + 24.39% |
30. The stimulation of patients to perform different activities at the same time is a way to prevent delirium (F) | 35.17% | 57.75% | + 22.58% |
31. Keeping instructions for patients as simple as possible is important in the prevention of delirium (T) | 86.21% | 93.41% | + 7.20% |
32. Early activation/ambulation (e.g., getting patients out of bed as soon as possible) of patients is an important strategy in the prevention of delirium (T) | 65.17% | 84.88% | + 19.71% |
33. Providing patients with familiar objects (e.g., photos, clock, newspaper) is important to prevent sensory deprivation (T) | 98.97% | 99.22% | + 0.25% |
34. Avoid eye contact in the prevention of delirium because it can be seen as a threat (F) | 86.21% | 94.96% | + 8.75% |
35. Keeping oral contact with the patient is an important strategy in the prevention of delirium (T) | 86.55% | 93.41% | + 6.86% |
Section C Overall Score | 75.72% | 88.53% | + 12.81% |
Student’s Overall Average Score (n = 298) | 77.95% (M = 27.28) (SD = 3.24) | 89.48% (M = 31.32) (SD = 2.43) | + 11.54% (4.04) |