Delirium in the Acute Care Setting From the Families Perspective: A Scoping Review.
Amber Mclean, Beverley Ewens, Amanda Towell-Barnard
PMID 40159700WHAT IT FOUND
Families of delirious patients feel unprepared and distressed because they rarely understand what is happening.
They want clear information and a role in care but are often left in the dark. Nurses should proactively explain delirium symptoms and invite family participation.
Key findings
01Only 13.4% of family members correctly identified delirium, with many misclassifying it as anxiety or dementia.
0274% of family members reported receiving no information about nonpharmacological management of delirium.
03Family members experienced high rates of psychological distress, with up to 66.7% reporting severe distress when confronted with delirium symptoms.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The review did not critically appraise the quality of the included studies, which is standard for scoping reviews but means the strength of the evidence is unknown. Many included studies had small sample sizes and relied on convenience sampling, limiting generalisability. The review excluded palliative, community, and aged care settings, so findings may not apply to those contexts. Some included studies mixed family, patient, and staff perspectives, which may have diluted the specific insights into family experiences.
Declared interests
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that families are aware of what is happening or that they know how to help. The review shows that most families are left in the dark, with 74% receiving no information on management. Silence or vague reassurance from staff increases family distress and prevents them from supporting the patient effectively.