Background:

The identification of delirium by nurses extremely relevant. The Portuguese version of the Nursing Delirium Screening Scale (Nu-DESC) is a tool that can be used in this setting.

Objective:

To evaluate the psychometric properties of the Portuguese version of the Nu-DESC in a surgical context.

Methodology:

Methodological study with patients aged 65 years or older with a diagnosis of proximal femur fracture. Three assessment tools were used to analyze the agreement between the results.

Results:

In a sample of 81 patients, the sensitivity of the Nu-DESC was 92% compared to the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) and 91% compared to the application of the DSM-5 criteria. The specificity of the instrument was 98% compared to CAM and 94% compared to the DSM-5. Cronbach’s alpha ranged between 0.86 and 0.89

Conclusion:

The evaluation of the psychometric properties of the Nu-DESC in a surgical context confirmed the validity and reliability of the instrument. The results show that the scale has a high sensitivity and specificity for assessing delirium.

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