Knowledge of Australian hospital pharmacists regarding delirium in elderly patients

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundDelirium is a serious condition in which medications are just one of a number of potential predisposing or precipitating factors. Adequate knowledge of delirium among all healthcare professionals, including pharmacists, may assist in effective prevention and management. However, little is known about the knowledge of pharmacists regarding delirium.AimTo assess Australian hospital pharmacists' knowledge of risk factors, symptoms, prevention and treatment of delirium in elderly patients.MethodA cross‐sectional survey was conducted via a web‐based questionnaire to collect information on participants' demographics, knowledge of delirium risk factors, symptoms, prevention and treatment. A link to the survey was included in the newsletters of The Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia, Australasian Delirium Association and New South Wales Therapeutic Advisory Group and distributed to hospital pharmacists in Australia via email.ResultsOne‐hundred and six responses from hospital pharmacists were available for analysis. Nine of 11 questions assessing basic knowledge were correctly answered by more than half of respondents. Seven of the eight questions related to delirium prevention strategies were correctly answered by more than half of pharmacists. However, only three of the eight questions about risk factors for delirium were answered correctly by more than half of pharmacists.ConclusionPharmacists' basic knowledge about delirium and prevention strategies was good; however, their knowledge of risk factors and symptoms of delirium needs to be improved. Delirium‐specific educational programs for pharmacists should be considered for improving their knowledge and understanding regarding delirium.