Iranian Hospitals Research Articles

Investigation of EpsA, OmpA, and Bap Genes among MDR and XDR Acinetobacter baumannii Isolates in Khorramabad, Iran.

Acinetobacter baumannii is an opportunistic hospital pathogen with high antibiotic resistance, and the ability to produce biofilm. This study aimed to investigate epsA, ompA, and bap genes involved in biofilm formation in MDR and XDR clinical isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii in Khorramabad, Iran. In this study, 79 A. baumannii isolates were collected from various samples of the patients admitted to tertiary hospitals in Khorramabad city, Iran, between January and August 2019. After performing the semi-quantitative evaluation of biofilm production by microtiter plate assay, screening of isolates carrying epsA, ompA, and bap genes was done by PCR method. Finally, statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS 22. Among 79 A. baumannii isolates, 52% XDR, 40% MDR, and 16% non-XDRMDR isolates were found to be biofilm producers. All XDR and 94% MDR isolates had ompA and epsA genes, and bap genes were detected among > 80% of these isolates. Moreover, the presence of biofilm-related genes and biofilm production among non-XDRMDR isolates were less than among resistant isolates (p≤ 0.01). Based on the results, biofilm production and simultaneous presence of epsA, ompA, and bap genes among MDR, and XDR A. baumannii isolates have been found to be significantly more than non-XDR-MDR isolates.

Effect of topical magnesium sulfate on labor duration and childbirth experience: a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundMagnesium sulfate is used topically to reduce the duration of labor in some regions of the country. However, there is insufficient evidence about its effectiveness. This study aimed to determine whether topical magnesium sulfate reduces labor duration and improves childbirth experience (primary outcomes).MethodsIn this randomized controlled trial, the participants were 98 women with low-risk, singleton, and full-term pregnancies admitted to a teaching hospital in Iran. They were randomly assigned to the intervention group (receiving 50% magnesium sulfate) or the control group (receiving distilled water) stratified by parity and onset of labor. The participants, interventionists, and data collectors were blinded. During the vaginal examination at the beginning of the active phase of labor, 10 mL of magnesium sulfate or distilled water was poured on the cervix of the uterus. Data collection was performed by the researcher with continuous monitoring up to two hours post-delivery and follow-up at 4–5 weeks postpartum. The Childbirth Experience Questionnaire 2.0 was used to examine childbirth experience. We performed a modified intention-to-treat analysis, excluding those whose outcome of interest could not be assessed. Independent-samples t-tests were used to compare the groups in terms of the mean of the primary outcomes.ResultsParticipant recruitment took place between December 2021 and December 2022. Thirty-three percent were primiparous and 37% had induced labor. Three women in the intervention group and seven in the control group underwent emergency cesarean sections. All 49 women assigned to each group were included in the analysis of labor duration outcome, while one and two women were excluded from the analysis of childbirth experience score due to loss to follow-up. In the intervention group, compared to the control group, the mean duration of the intervention until delivery was significantly shorter (1.59 vs. 2.93 h; MD -1.34, 95% CI [-1.88 to -0.79]) and the childbirth experience score was higher (3.1 vs. 2.3, MD 0.84; 95% CI [0.59 to 1.08]).ConclusionsAccording to the results of this trial, pouring 10 mL of 50% magnesium sulfate on the cervix at the beginning of the active phase of labor probably reduces labor duration and improves the childbirth experience.Trial registrationEthics Committee of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences: IR.TBZMED.REC. 1400.726. Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials: IRCT20100414003706N40 Registration date: 21/11/2021 (https://en.irct.ir/trial/58323).

Forecasting Patient Early Readmission from Irish Hospital Discharge Records Using Conventional Machine Learning Models

Background/Objectives: Predicting patient readmission is an important task for healthcare risk management, as it can help prevent adverse events, reduce costs, and improve patient outcomes. In this paper, we compare various conventional machine learning models and deep learning models on a multimodal dataset of electronic discharge records from an Irish acute hospital. Methods: We evaluate the effectiveness of several widely used machine learning models that leverage patient demographics, historical hospitalization records, and clinical diagnosis codes to forecast future clinical risks. Our work focuses on addressing two key challenges in the medical fields, data imbalance and the variety of data types, in order to boost the performance of machine learning algorithms. Furthermore, we also employ SHapley Additive Explanations (SHAP) value visualization to interpret the model predictions and identify both the key data features and disease codes associated with readmission risks, identifying a specific set of diagnosis codes that are significant predictors of readmission within 30 days. Results: Through extensive benchmarking and the application of a variety of feature engineering techniques, we successfully improved the area under the curve (AUROC) score from 0.628 to 0.7 across our models on the test dataset. We also revealed that specific diagnoses, including cancer, COPD, and certain social factors, are significant predictors of 30-day readmission risk. Conversely, bacterial carrier status appeared to have minimal impact due to lower case frequencies. Conclusions: Our study demonstrates how we effectively utilize routinely collected hospital data to forecast patient readmission through the use of conventional machine learning while applying explainable AI techniques to explore the correlation between data features and patient readmission rate.

“We want to get out” – A qualitative study on reasons for nurses’ early retirement intentions

Abstract Background Nurses, the largest workforce in healthcare, play a central role in health systems. There is a severe global shortage of nurses, which is expected to worsen as a significant portion approaches retirement age. Early retirements can harm care quality and healthcare access, thus significantly impacting public health. Identifying reasons is crucial to prevent this trend. This study examined factors behind nurses’ early retirement intentions. Methods A descriptive qualitative study was conducted in an Irish hospital (July to September 2023) including individual interviews with 10 nurses aged 55 and over. A thematic analysis was conducted collaboratively by three researchers to identify key factors influencing nurses’ intentions to retire early. Results Five main themes emerged: 1) Health concerns, encompassing physical strain and psychological stress, significantly influencing early retirement intentions; 2) Struggling to balance job demands with personal responsibilities such as caring for ageing parents due to inflexible work schedules; 3) Need for more support from senior leaders to address staffing shortages and investment in aging nurses’ career and retirement planning to make staying more desirable and easier; 4) Feelings about nurses’ experience being undervalued in the evolving healthcare; and 5) Facing constant heavy responsibility in guiding new nurses, while simultaneously fearing patient safety risks and encountering generational differences. Conclusions Developing support systems for ageing nurses, encompassing strategies to ease workload strain, enhancing career opportunities, and promoting intergenerational collaboration are critical for reducing early retirement trends and sustaining a resilient healthcare workforce. By implementing tailored approaches, such as flexible scheduling and mentorship programs for ageing nurses, healthcare organisations can promote workforce longevity and enhance public health outcomes through improved care delivery. Key messages • Health challenges and struggles in work-life balance influence early retirement intentions among nurses, urging flexible work arrangements and improved recognition and leadership in healthcare. • To extend work careers, organisations must invest in ageing nurses’ career and retirement planning, value experience, and acknowledge potential challenges and benefits in intergenerational nursing.

The relationships among safety climate, occupational burnout, and psychosocial factors for hospital nurses: Using structural equation modeling

ABSTRACT It is very important to pay attention to the mental health of nurses because it affects their career performance and personal life. Our aim was to apply a theoretical model to investigate the structural relationships among safety climate, occupational burnout, and workplace psychosocial factors for nurses. The current cross-sectional study was conducted on 319 nurses in a selected hospital in Iran. Data were collected using the questionnaires of Nurses’ Safety Climate, Copenhagen Burnout Inventory, and the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire. Structural equation modeling was used to examine the relationships among the variables. The analysis was done in Amos-24 and SPSS-24 software. Structural equation modeling showed negative correlation between occupational burnout and safety climate (r = −0.41) as well as occupational burnout and workplace psychosocial factor (r = −0.85), and a positive correlation between safety climate and psychosocial factors (r = 0.50). So it could be inferred that a decrease in the level of safety climate will increase occupational burnout which will, in turn, promote the risk of psychosocial factors in the workplace. Promoting and improving nurses’ level of safety climate could reduce occupational burnout and the risk of psychosocial factors in the workplace, which will ultimately promote nurse’s mental health.

Degradation of piroxicam and celecoxib from aqueous solution by high-energy electron beam as a Sustainable method

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are one of the most commonly prescribed drugs that can reduce pain. This study aimed to measure the concentration of piroxicam and celecoxib in Iranian hospitals, as well as the effect of electron beam irradiation on the degradation of these pollutants in synthetic and real samples. The high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to detect the residual analytes in the samples. The Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was used to design the experiment conditions that investigate the effect of electron beam irradiation on degradation of piroxicam and celecoxib from synthetic samples, and then according to the optimum condition, the experiments were carried out for real wastewater samples. The results of wastewater analysis shown that the mean concentration of PIRO and CELE were 6.32 ± 2.5 and 11.5 ± 3.2 μg/L, respectively. Also, the findings show that 98.98 % and 97.62 % of piroxicam and celecoxib was degraded, respectively, when the optimum conditions (pH = 4, electron beam irradiation = 8 kGy, and concentrations of 60 μg/L for piroxicam and 50 μg/L for celecoxib) were applied. Results show that the degradation rates of piroxicam and celecoxib in the real wastewater sample at optimum condition were 89.6 % and 84.25 %, respectively. So, electron beam irradiation is a long-lasting and promising method for removal emerging contaminants from wastewater, like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, that can't be removed by conventional wastewater treatment methods; so, it can be used in combination with conventional wastewater treatment methods.

Mental health assessment rooms within Irish hospital emergency departments before and after COVID-19 restrictions.

Mental health assessment rooms within Irish hospital emergency departments before and after COVID-19 restrictions.

Examining cardiac toxicity in HER2-positive breast cancer patients using trastuzumab and its influencing factors at Iran Hospital.

Trastuzumab is primarily utilized in the treatment of patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) positive breast cancer. This study aimed to investigate the incidence of cardiac toxicity associated with trastuzumab in HER2-positive breast cancer patients at Iran Hospital in 2023, as well as the factors influencing this toxicity. In this cross-sectional study, 200 patients diagnosed with HER2-positive breast cancer and receiving trastuzumab were included. The criteria for heart failure in this study were defined as an ejection fraction (EF) of less than 50% or a decrease of greater than 10% in EF. Descriptive statistics, the chi-square statistical test, Fisher's exact test, and logistic regression analyses were employed to assess the variables. A p-value of less than 0.05 was deemed statistically significant. The mean age of the participants was 51.5 ± 2.5 years. The odds ratio (OR) for the variable of anthracyclines was 1.3 (95% CI: 1.2-1.4); for opium use, the OR was 2.7 (95% CI: 0.9-8.5); for diabetes, the OR was 2.7 (95% CI: 1.2-5.9); for ischemic heart disease, the OR was 3.5 (95% CI: 1.6-7.7); and for hypertension, the OR was 4.8 (95% CI: 2.1-10.7). The OR for obesity was 1.45 (95% CI: 1.01-2.18), and the OR for age was 1.10 (95% CI: 1.01-1.12). No statistically significant association was found between opium use and cardiotoxicity (p = 0.07). This research contributes to the identification of factors that may predict responses to anthracyclines and the potential for cardiotoxicities. Ultimately, this information could inform the development of more personalized treatment strategies.

Fall prevention among psychiatric patients in an Iranian hospital: a best practice implementation project.

Falls are the main cause of disability among psychiatric patients, as well as being the most common adverse event in hospitals. The aim of this evidence implementation project was to improve fall prevention and management among psychiatric patients in a neurology ward in an Iranian tertiary psychiatric hospital. This project used the JBI Evidence Implementation Framework, which recommends an audit, feedback, and re-audit strategy. A baseline audit was conducted to evaluate current fall prevention practices among 50 psychiatric patients and 20 health care professionals. The baseline audit was used to identify gaps in compliance. After the implementation of improvement strategies, a follow-up audit was conducted to measure any changes in practice. The baseline and follow-up audits revealed that compliance with best practices improved in ward transfer fall risk assessment (Criterion 2: 87% to 90%), patient participation in fall risk assessment (Criterion 3: 95% to 96%), revising patient fall risk status (Criterion 9: 50% to 86%), and person-centered education of health care providers (Criterion 11: 78% to 96%). Other audit criteria remained unchanged. However, for Criterion 6 on patient engagement in goal-setting and treatment planning, compliance dropped from 100% at baseline to 94% at follow-up. This project successfully increased evidence-based practices regarding fall prevention and management, as well as providing mechanisms for sustaining the practice changes. Future audits are required to further improve outcomes. http://links.lww.com/IJEBH/A267.

Frequency of Bacteria Causing Exudative Diarrhea in Children Less Than Five Years Old in a Tertiary Hospital, Iran

Background: Exudative diarrhea is a significant global public health issue, particularly affecting children under the age of 5. Identifying the cause of diarrhea is crucial for epidemiological surveillance and, in some cases, for ensuring appropriate treatment for patients. Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of bacteria responsible for exudative diarrhea in samples from children under five years old in a tertiary hospital in Iran. Methods: In this multicenter cross-sectional descriptive study, 104 children with exudative diarrhea who were referred to Mofid Children's Hospital in Tehran, as well as hospitals in Hamedan, Ardebil, and Bandar Abbas, from December 2020 to March 2022 were enrolled. DNA extraction was performed using a commercial kit, and the identification of various causative bacteria was conducted through conventional and real-time PCR. Descriptive and inferential statistics were analyzed using SPSS version 22 software. Results: Most of the children with exudative diarrhea were under 12 months old (31%) or between 12 and 24 months old (22%). Boys made up 66% of the participants. Additionally, 70% of the children had a fever, and 58% experienced vomiting. Furthermore, 56% of the patients were dehydrated. The most prevalent bacterial causes of exudative diarrhea were Shigella spp., followed by Salmonella spp., Campylobacter spp., Clostridium difficile, E. coli-Stx1, and E. coli-Stx2. Conclusions: The findings indicated that *Shigella* spp. was the leading cause of diarrhea in children under five years old. The most common signs and symptoms associated with exudative diarrhea were fever and vomiting, which physicians should consider in their diagnostic and treatment processes.

Psychometrics assessment of clinical reasoning competency scale in nurses of critical care units

BackgroundNurses play a crucial role in identifying patients’ needs and assessing their clinical conditions to provide adequate and timely interventions. However, evaluating the clinical reasoning competence of nurses requires valid, specific, and comprehensive tools. The present study aimed to translate and psychometrically assess the Persian version of the Clinical Reasoning Competence Scale (CRCS) for nurses in special care units in Iran.MethodsThis cross-sectional, multi-axis methodological study involved 630 nurses from critical care departments in 11 Iranian hospitals. The original version of the Clinical Reasoning Competency Scale for Nurses (CRCSN) was translated into Persian using the forward and backward translation method. The psychometric properties of this scale were assessed using COSMIN criteria.ResultsEach item’s content validity ratio (CVR) ranges from 0.69 to 1, the Item content validity index (I-CVI) ranges from 0.82 to 1, while the S-w was 0.95. Exploratory factor analysis revealed that the items load on three distinct dimensions—“plan setting,” “intervention strategy regulation,” and “self-instruction”—with loadings ranging from 0.621 to 0.912. These dimensions collectively explain 74.32% of the variance. Confirmatory validity was affirmed without necessitating the removal or reordering of items during the exploratory phase. The scale’s reliability was established with a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.91 and a test-retest reliability coefficient of 0.92. Factor analysis was also conducted.ConclusionThe Persian version of CRCSN has been found to be valid and reliable in critical care units. Therefore, nursing managers can confidently use this tool to evaluate the clinical reasoning competence of nurses. They can also implement appropriate strategies, such as educational interventions, to improve their clinical reasoning skills.

Quality improvement in hospital: How knowledge and attitude affect job performance across different professional groups

Objective: Improving the performance of healthcare organizations is a major concern within health systems. This study aims to explore the relationship between hospital staff’s knowledge and attitudes about continuous quality improvement (CQI) and their perceived job performance while determining if professional groups moderate this relationship.Methods: A total of 250 questionnaires were distributed among three main job groups at a public hospital in Iran. Statistical analysis included variance-based structural equation modeling and Pearson correlation coefficients.Results: Of the 250 distributed questionnaires, 196 were returned (response rate: 78%). The path coefficient between staff knowledge and performance was 0.390 higher in the physician group than in the non-physician group, and 0.207 higher in the administrative-financial group. The path coefficient for the non-physician group was 0.120 higher than that of the administrativefinancial group. For staff attitudes and performance, the path coefficient was 0.160 higher in the physician group than in the non-physician group, and 0.090 higher than in the administrative-financial group. The administrative-financial group had a 0.070 higher path coefficient than the non-physician group.Conclusions: The study indicates positive relationships between hospital employees’ knowledge and attitudes about quality improvement and their job performance. These relationships were not significantly moderated by professional groups.

The role of spiritual care departments in Iranian hospitals: a holistic approach to healing

The role of spiritual care departments in Iranian hospitals: a holistic approach to healing

Mechanism of injury, resource utilisation and outcomes for patients admitted with head injuries under General Surgery.

There has been a noticeable change in Irish hospitals in the demographics of patients sustaining head injuries that now includes many older patients suffering head injuries from low impact trauma. This study sought to define the demographic nature of patients admitted with head injuries over a 3-month period to Beaumont Hospital and to determine the mechanisms of head injuries sustained, resource utilisation during the inpatient admission and the outcomes for these patients. All head injuries admitted between December 1, 2023, and February 29, 2024, were captured and data pertaining to patient demographics, mechanism of injury, resource utilisation and outcomes were assessed. A comparison between patients under the age of 70 and over the age of 70 was also undertaken. Thirty six patients were admitted in the 3-month period. 52.8% (n = 19) were over the age of 70. The mechanism of injury in the older cohort had a tendency to be low impact trauma, often with mechanical falls from standing height The median length of stay was 4.5days. The older cohort was more likely to have a history of previous falls, to require input from allied health and social care professionals and were less likely to be discharged directly home. Older patients requiring hospital admission for head injuries have significantly different care needs to younger patients admitted with head injuries. A national pathway for older patients who sustain head injuries needs to be implemented to ensure they get timely access to the investigations and specialists required.

Characteristics and Outcomes of Patients Admitted to Intensive Care Units in an Academic Hospital Northern Iran

Background: Identifying risk factors that predict mortality in the intensive care unit (ICU) can lead to improved management of critically ill patients and help reduce mortality rates. Objectives: This study aimed to identify the prevalence and risk factors that potentially contribute to predicting mortality in the ICU. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the general ICU of an academic hospital in northeastern Iran from April 2019 to March 2023. Demographic and clinical data were retrieved from medical records, including age, gender, marital status, residency, length of stay in the ICU, level of consciousness, duration of mechanical ventilation (MV), and co-morbidities. The outcomes were categorized as death or discharge. Results: Out of 8,650 admitted patients, 62.8% were discharged, and 37.2% died. The factors significantly associated with death included age (59.24 ± 21.9 years vs. 49.63 ± 23.32 years, P < 0.0001), female gender (42.7% vs. 57.3%, P < 0.0001), marital status (41.1% married vs. 58.9% unmarried, P < 0.0001), length of stay in the ICU (5.99 ± 9.09 days vs. 4.13 ± 6.55 days, P < 0.0001), Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) of 3 - 5 (87.9% vs. 12.1%, P < 0.0001), duration of MV (4.86 ± 8.69 days vs. 1.09 ± 4.85 days, P < 0.0001), and co-morbidities (44.7% vs. 55.3%, P < 0.0001), which were confirmed by logistic regression analysis. Conclusions: The prevalence of death in the ICU was 37.2%. Age, co-morbidities, cerebral vascular accident (CVA), GCS, duration of MV, and marital status were significantly associated with mortality.

Quality of life in women with early-stage and metastatic hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer receiving endocrine therapy.

Early discontinuation of endocrine therapy (ET) is higher among patients with early breast cancer (EBC) compared to patients with metastatic hormone receptor-positive (HR+) breast cancer (MBC). In our clinical experience the reasons for this may include a significant burden of ET side effects impacting quality of life (QOL) in patients with EBC. We hypothesized that QOL is lower in patients with HR + EBC compared to patients with HR + MBC on ET. We conducted a cross-sectional observational study to assess QOL utilizing FACT-ES & EORTC QLQ C30 tools among patients with EBC and MBC receiving ET across 5 Irish hospitals. A total of 417 patients were enrolled-EBC (79% n = 331) and MBC 21% (n = 86). Using the FACT-ES, we found no difference in overall QOL by stage (139.2 vs 141, P = .33). Patients with HR + MBC had a lower symptom burden from ET compared to HR + EBC (61.4 vs 54, P < .01). In adjusted multivariate linear regression models, there was no difference in QOL for patients with EBC and MBC receiving ET. There was no significant difference in overall QOL for patients with EBC and MBC. However, patients with EBC experienced more endocrine symptoms. In adjusted multivariate linear regression models, the stage did not predict QOL. Our results suggest that endocrine symptoms are significant contributors to impaired QOL for patients with EBC but the role of other determinants of QOL (eg, stage) is less clear. Future work could include the development of stage-specific QOL tools and utilization of electronic patient-reported outcomes (ePROs) to identify and manage emergent toxicities.

Medication Reconciliation at the Time of Admission and Discharge by Pharmacists in the Adult Nephrology Wards of a Referral Hospital in Iran

Medication Reconciliation at the Time of Admission and Discharge by Pharmacists in the Adult Nephrology Wards of a Referral Hospital in Iran

Malaria in the Republic of Ireland; a retrospective review of the clinical epidemiology of malaria between 2016 and 2020

ObjectivesMalaria is a parasitic infection that continues to present significant morbidity and mortality figures throughout the world. In the Republic of Ireland (Ireland), malaria is an imported infection linked most frequently to travel routes from West-Africa. There is a paucity of data on the clinical epidemiology and hospital service utilisation of malaria in non-endemic setting to inform physician practice. This study aims to fill that gap, providing a clinical context to the national picture of both adult and paediatric cases. MethodsA retrospective review of data from all public Irish hospitals was performed from 2016 to 2020, inclusive. Ethical approval was granted following review by the Social Research Ethics Committee (SREC) of University College Cork. Results and ConclusionsDuring the study period, there were 337 cases of malaria presenting to Irish hospitals, 15.1% (51/337) in the paediatric age category. Presentations occurred nationwide with a predictable seasonality. The majority (77.45%; 261/337) were Plasmodium falciparum and 6% (20/337) required critical care admission. Interestingly, females had a higher likelihood of admission to critical care (OR 2.75, 95% CI 1.1 – 6.86). The COVID-19 pandemic saw a 78% reduction in malaria presentations in 2020. A total of 1,166 bed days were utilised by cases of malaria.

Pediatric Cystic Echinococcosis in Tehran, Iran: A 9-Year Retrospective Epidemiological and Clinical Survey of Hospitalized Cases.

Cystic echinococcosis (CE), the second most significant foodborne parasitic disease worldwide, poses a significant global health burden. Understanding its clinical and laboratory features is crucial for effective management. This study aimed to investigate the epidemiological, laboratory, and clinical characteristics of pediatric CE in an Iranian referral hospital. A cross-sectional study reviewed hospital records of patients with CE admitted to Children's Medical Center, Tehran, Iran, from 2011 to 2020. Data on demographics, diagnostics, clinical presentation, laboratory findings, and treatment were collected and analyzed. A total of 114 patients, with a mean age of 7.33 ± 2.9 years, were diagnosed with CE. The male-to-female ratio was 1.78, and 73.7% were urban residents. Abdominal pain (69%) and coughing (65%) were the most common symptoms. In confirming the cyst involvement across anatomical sites, pathology emerged as the most reliable method, with effectiveness ranging from 95% to 100%. Abdominal ultrasonography and computed tomography scan were frequently utilized imaging modalities, displaying effectiveness percentages of 71-85%. Liver and lung involvement predominated (66%), with 39% of cases showing multiorgan involvement. Spleen involvement was less common (6%), and neurological involvement was rare (1-2%). The majority of patients (n = 63, 67.7%) displayed cysts larger than 50 mm. All patients received albendazole treatment, and 104 patients (91.2%) underwent surgical procedures, with three postsurgical deaths. In conclusion, hospital records over 9 years indicate an increasing prevalence of CE, emphasizing the need for heightened awareness and effective public health interventions to control this parasitic infection.

Results From A Snapshot Survey Of Delirium Prevalence, Detection And Care In Hospitals In Ireland On World Delirium Awareness Day

Abstract Background Delirium, an acute encephalopathy characterized by acute onset, fluctuation, and attention deficits, is associated with increased mortality and morbidity, and with precipitation or worsening of dementia. Thus, delirium prevention, timely detection, and appropriate management are crucial. Methods On World Delirium Awareness Day (15th March 2023), a global survey was assessed delirium prevalence and care. A senior clinical staff member on each participating ward reported on delirium prevalence at 8AM and 8PM, and on usual ward practice; data was entered into an online survey by a data collector (typically an on-site clinician, visiting several wards to record data). This study reports data from Irish hospitals. Results In total, 132 wards from 15 hospitals across Ireland participated. Delirium prevalence, using a formal assessment tool, was 15.9% across all wards, highest in geriatric wards (20.5%). However, on wards where 'personal judgment' to detect delirium was utilized, the prevalence rate was 11.5%, implying that delirium may be missed on these wards. Intensive care units (76.2%), geriatric wards (70%), and Emergency Departments/Acute Medical Units (ED/AMUA; 66.7%) had the highest rate of written delirium protocols. Similarly, staff training (51.5% overall), was highest in ED/AMAU (88.9%), followed by general surgical (66.7%), and geriatrics wards (60%). In contrast, only 30.8% (4/13) of non-acute wards had provided staff with delirium training in the preceding year. Having at least one training session in the preceding year was associated with higher use of formal delirium tools (18.8% versus 60.3%). Wards reported staff training/educating as the main care improvement priority; 72.7% of wards identified lack of time to train staff as a key barrier. Conclusion Delirium is prevalent in Irish hospitals and appears under-detected without formal screening. Training staff in delirium-related skills, including the use of simple screening tools for delirium detection and causation, could be paramount to improving patient outcomes.