Hospital and nursing home patients’ experiences with delirium assessments: A qualitative content analysis

Abstract

To explore hospital and nursing home patients’ experiences with delirium assessments and better understand their attitudes, we used a qualitative method to summarise, in everyday terms, specific events observed by researchers and experienced by patients. We performed participant observations of delirium assessments of eight patients and conducted individual semi-structured face-to-face interviews with seven other patients. We carried out content analysis using an inductive approach. Our findings indicate that patients approached delirium assessment with initial scepticism due to a lack of knowledge. Their scepticism changed to complete acceptance after the assessment’s purpose was explained. However, some patients gave up on the assessment due to cognitive challenges, lack of energy, fatigue, or language barriers. Patients appreciated that professionals were interested in their mental and physical well-being. Despite initial scepticism, the patients found the delirium assessment valuable when they better understood its purpose. Thus, healthcare professionals should provide patients with relevant information about delirium assessments.