Screening of Cardiac Surgery Patients - Polish Validation 4AT Tool

IntroductionDelirium is a phenomenon which affects patients with various disorders and representing various age groups. Screening instruments make it possible to diagnose the condition at an early stage and to prevent its development. The article presents validation of the 4AT instrument, i.e. a two-minute test used to identify delirium.ObjectivesThe aim of the present study was to examine the reliability and validity of the Polish version of the 4AT (Pol4-AT) for use by nurses working in intensive care units.Patients and MethodsThe 4AT test was used to assess 444 patients at a cardiac surgery ward, on their sixth day in hospital, and the third day following a surgery. The patients were selected at random (in sequence any patient returning from a surgery and staying in hospital for six days). The conditions for entering the study included the subjects’ informed consent and age >18 years. ResultsThe current findings show that the 4AT scale can effectively be used in Poland, not only in geriatric patients but also at surgical wards and at ICUs. The study showed Cronbach’s alpha amounting to 0.843. ConclusionsThere is currently no validation tool in Poland that can be used in the diagnosis and screening of delirium. The CAM and CAM ICU scales, despite the fact that they have been translated into Polish, are not a standard used in practice in Poland