Title : Development and evaluation of a standardized patient based interprofessional scenario simulation training program for geriatric delirium nursing care
Abstract:
Objective: To design and evaluate a training program based on standardized patients (SP) and interprofessional scenario simulation (IPSS), aiming to improve geriatric nurses’ competencies in delirium recognition, non pharmacological management, and interprofessional collaboration.
Method: A quasi experimental non concurrent controlled design was conducted from April 2025 to February 2026. Eighty two geriatric nurses from two tertiary hospitals were assigned to an intervention group (n=41) or a control group (n=41). The intervention group received a 4 week (16 hours) SP IPSS training, including interactions with standardized patients (simulating elderly with delirium), delirium assessment using the CAM ICU tool, development of non pharmacological intervention plans (e.g., orientation training, sleep management, activity promotion) with virtual pharmacists, geriatricians, and rehabilitation therapists, as well as interprofessional communication and conflict management drills. The control group received conventional lectures and case discussions. Outcome measures included the Geriatric Delirium Nursing Knowledge Questionnaire (GDNKQ), the Interprofessional Communication Scale (IPCS), and the Delirium Management Clinical Decision Making Self Efficacy Scale (DM CDSES), assessed at baseline, post intervention, and 3 month follow up. Semi structured interviews were also conducted to collect subjective experiences.
Results: The intervention group showed significantly higher scores than the control group in GDNKQ (89.3±5.4 vs. 73.1±6.2, p<0.001), IPCS (74.2±7.1 vs. 58.6±8.3, p<0.001), and DM CDSES (79.6±6.5 vs. 62.4±7.8, p<0.001) immediately after training, with sustained differences at the 3 month follow up. Nurses in the intervention group had a 55% increase in the rate of using CAM ICU for delirium screening in clinical practice, and the frequency of proactively proposing non pharmacological intervention suggestions in interprofessional teams increased 1.9 fold. Qualitative analysis revealed two themes: “a bridge from theory to practice” and “delirium management that balances empathy and standardization”.
Conclusion: The training model based on standardized patients and interprofessional scenario simulation significantly improves geriatric nurses’ core competencies in managing delirium, interprofessional collaboration, and long term knowledge retention. This model provides an innovative, feasible, and efficient practical pathway for promoting patient centered geriatric delirium nursing education.
Keywords: Geriatric Delirium; Standardized Patient; Interprofessional Scenario Simulation; Geriatric Nursing Education; Non Pharmacological Intervention
