Routine Screening Demonstrates Pediatric Delirium Hospital-Wide.

Purpose

To identify the rate of positive delirium screens in children within a pediatric hospital setting.

Methods

All Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapists in our acute-care pediatric medical center were trained to use the Cornell Assessment of Pediatric Delirium (CAPD), an observational delirium screening tool validated for use in children of all ages and developmental stages. Delirium screening was then performed during all therapy sessions, hospital-wide.

Results

During the 15-week study period, 1259 delirium screens were completed on 791 unique patients. Delirium was diagnosed in every pediatric unit, with the highest rates noted in the intensive care units (34.3%), but was also found in noncritically ill pediatric patients at a rate of nearly 14%.

Conclusion

Delirium occurred in 20.5% of our cohort, which included children hospital-wide. There is a need to implement delirium screening in all pediatric units, not just in the critical care space.