Optimization of Interprofessional Perioperative Care for Geriatric Patients at Risk for Delirium after Elective Procedures

Delirium is a complex neuropsychiatric syndrome that manifests as the brain’s response to internal or external disturbances, sometimes resulting in cognitive changes in consciousness, attention, or perception. Delirium is a common complication in older patients following surgical procedures and can lead to prolonged hospital stays and increased mortality. Despite growing international evidence, challenges remain in the preoperative identification of at-risk patients to prevent postoperative delirium. Systematic identification of risk factors and the development of individualized risk profiles—which can be conducted pre-hospital in primary care and integrated into medical and nursing perioperative care—can significantly optimize delirium prevention and management in older patients undergoing elective surgery.
The overarching objectives of the GeDePa study are:
1. The initial development of a Geriatric Delirium Passport (GeDePa), i.e., an analog, paper-based profile of risk factors based on scientific evidence and the clinical experience of key healthcare professionals.
2. A qualitative and quantitative expert evaluation (n = 21; general practitioners, anaesthesiologists, nurses) of the relevance, feasibility, and practicability of the GeDePa in clinical care.