Abstract:
The purposes of this descriptive study research were to examine the relationships between factors related to delirium in hospitalized elderly patients in orthopaedic surgical wards which were activity daily living, electrolyte, severity of illness, polypharmacy, immobilization, and cognitive function. Data were collected from 120 elderly patients who were purposively selected. Research instruments were demographic questionnaires, Barthel ADL Index, severity of illness, cognitive function, and delirium questionnaires which were tested for content validity and reliability. The reliability were .80, .78, .84, .70 respectively. Data were analyzed by using statistic methods, including mean, percentage, standard variation, Pearsons Product Moment correlation, and stepwise multiple regression. Major findings were as follows : 1. Mean score of delirium among hospitalized elderly patients in orthopaedic surgical wards was 14.18 (score above ten indicated delirium). 2. Activity daily living and cognitive function were significantly negative by correlated with delirium in hospitalized elderly patients in orthopaedic surgical wards at level of .05 (r=-.438, -.541 respectively) 3. Severity of illness and immobilization were significantly positive by correlated with delirium in hospitalized elderly patients in orthopaedic surgical wards at level of .05 (r=.593, .256 respectively) 4. Severity of illness and cognitive function were significantly predictive factors for delirium in hospitalized elderly patients in orthopaedic surgical wards at level of .05 and accounted for 48.5 percent. The equation derived from standardize score as listed; Z Delirium in hospitalized elderly patients = .465 Z₁ Severity of illness -.388 Z₂ Cognitive function.