Delirium awareness and care practices among Western European healthcare professionals: a survey.

PURPOSE: Despite its high prevalence, delirium remains under-recognized and inadequately managed, with notable differences across clinical and geographical settings. This study aimed to assess current practices, perceived knowledge and barriers to delirium management, and educational preferences among healthcare professionals (HCP) in four Western European countries.

METHODS

A cross-sectional online survey was conducted between September 2024 and February 2025 across six hospitals in Norway, Switzerland, Germany, and Italy. Doctors, nurses and therapists (physio-, occupational, and speech-language therapists) from surgical, medical, geriatric, and rehabilitation wards were invited to participate via institutional networks. The survey assessed perceived knowledge on delirium, use of screening tools, implemented prevention strategies, barriers, and preferred educational methods. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics.

RESULTS

529 HCP responded (72% female; nurses 41.6%, doctors 36.3%). Delirium was frequently encountered, particularly in geriatric and rehabilitation wards; however, 53% reported not using formal assessments, 22% reported using 4AT and 16% CAM. Perceived barriers for better care included lack of time and staffing (69%), limited knowledge (55%), and absence of standard operating procedures (30%). The implementation of preventive strategies and perceived competence varied across settings and countries, with more comprehensive approaches reported in environments with a stronger geriatric focus. Case-based learning emerged as the most preferred educational format across all professional groups (65.5%).

CONCLUSION

The survey highlights still existing gaps in the implementation of optimal delirium care across different European settings from the HCP perspectives and shows that profession- and context-specific educational initiatives are warranted and might contribute to improvement in care.