Detecting Delirium in Older People: The Development of a New Web-Based Tool for Family Caregivers

Jia  Hou; Nahathai Wongpakaran; Tinakon       Wongpakaran; Decha       Tamdee; Phuanjai  Rattakorn; Joshua       TSOH

Authors

Jia Hou Mental Health Program, Multidisciplinary Interdisciplinary School, Chiang Mai University, Thailand https://orcid.org/0009-0004-8138-214X
Nahathai Wongpakaran Mental Health Program, Multidisciplinary and Interdisciplinary School (MIdS), Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Thailand https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8365-2474
Tinakon Wongpakaran Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Thailand https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9062-3468
Decha Tamdee Faculty of Nursing, Chiang Mai University, Thailnad https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1121-0850
Phuanjai Rattakorn Occupational Therapy Department, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Thailand https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7769-2381
Joshua TSOH Department of Psychiatry, Prince of Wales Hospital, New Territories East Cluster (NTEC), Shatin, Hong Kong https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9001-5158

Keywords:

Delirium, Web-based tool, family caregiver, older adults

Abstract

Objective Delirium is a common yet under-recognized neuropsychiatric condition in older adults. In Thailand, many family caregivers lack accessible tools that can help them identify this condition at home. This study aimed to develop and evaluate a bilingual, web-based tool, “delirium-detect,” to support early delirium detection by non-professional caregivers.

Methods This research and development study involved literature reviews, expert interviews, key informant input, and focus group discussions to design a 22-item symptom checklist available in both Thai and English and in desktop and mobile formats. A pretest (n = 17) and a pilot test (n = 11) were conducted with family caregivers of hospitalized older adults diagnosed with delirium. Tool feasibility and user satisfaction were as-sessed using descriptive analysis.

Results Expert reviews confirmed strong content validity (CVI = 1.00). All pilot participants met DSM-5 criteria for delirium using the tool, supporting its criterion validity. The average time to complete the questionnaire was 9.09 minutes. User feedback indicated high satisfaction: 54.5% “liked” and 18.2% “strongly liked” the tool, while 72.8% found it easy or extremely easy to use.

Conclusions The “delirium-detect” tool demonstrated preliminary validity, practicality, and user-friendliness, supporting its potential for early delirium detection by family caregivers. Further validation in larger and more diverse populations is recommended to enhance generalizability.

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