Methods for the effective symptom assessment to detect delirium by nursing staff and paramedics, regardless where health services are provided

Introduction. Delirium is one of the qualitative disorders of consciousness, characterized by, inter alia, changeable course, inability to focus or disorganized thinking. It can occur among patients from various age groups. The risk factors for delirium include: age over 60 years, polypharmacy, sleep disorders, simultaneous presence of dementia, pain syndromes or dehydration. There are various types of delirium (depending on the level of activity), as well as various forms (including Delirium Tremens, Excited Delirium Syndrome).

Aim. The objective of this publication is to systematize knowledge about delirium and providing appropriate tools for assessing the occurrence of delirium in different patients, so as to simplify a quick and efficient detection of the disorder by medical personnel.

Conclusions. This publication describes tools that can be used in pre-hospital and in-hospital practice, including departments caring for critically ill patients, requiring, for example, mechanical ventilation (intensive care units, cardiac intensive care units, intensive toxicological supervision units, etc.). In addition, practical aspects have been taken into account, and solutions taken from other publications that can be implemented in daily work with the patient have been proposed – a combination of several tools for quick, easy and reliable detection of delirium in the subject.