Summary
Evidence-based screening tools for delirium in older adults are available but often underused. This ethnographic study found incomplete screenings and identified barriers such as staff prioritization of other duties, limited awareness of the tool's value, and language barriers. Facilitators included input from care partners on baseline mental status and nurses introducing the screening to boost patient participation.
Carpenter KP, Bellolio F, Bartolacci M, et al. Barriers and facilitators to the fidelity of delirium screening in the emergency department: an ethnographic approach. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2026;74(1):43-54.