Background: Postoperative delirium is a fatal complication that occurs in older adults
after surgery. It is prevalent in healthcare settings and is often under-recognized and
misdiagnosed due to a lack of knowledge among healthcare providers. Aim: To
evaluate the effect of the training program on nursing staff knowledge and practices
regarding post-operative delirium among older adult patients. Methods: A quasi-
experimental research design with one group pretest-posttest was employed. A
purposive sample of 80 eligible nurses was recruited to participate in the study from the
surgical and intensive care units affiliated to Mansoura University Hospital. The data
pertinent to the study was collected using the Nurses' Demographic Characteristics and
Work-Related Data questionnaire, the Delirium Knowledge Questionnaire, and the
Delirium Observational Checklist. Results: The majority of the studied nurses had poor
knowledge and practices related to postoperative delirium (81.3% and 100%,
respectively). After implementing the training program, the studied nurses' total mean
scores of knowledge improved from 14.48±2.94 to 27.28±4.94. Similarly, the nurses'
total mean scores of practices increased from 28.18±3.90 to 63.32±6.23, with a
statistically significant difference observed in overall mean scores of knowledge and
practices (p<0.00) pre- and post-program. Conclusion: The proposed training program
is an effective teaching approach that enhances nurses' knowledge and practices
regarding postoperative delirium. Recommendations: An in-service educational
program should be developed for nurses who care for elderly patients to improve their
knowledge and skills regarding postoperative delirium. Nursing institutions should also
emphasize the education of postoperative delirium and integrate it into the
undergraduate nursing curriculum to raise nursing students' awareness regarding this
serious complication