Introduction: Cognitive impairment and delirium are often unidentified in hospitalized patients. Despite the fact that 40 % of all cases of delirium might be prevented, national guidelines are missing in Sweden. Study aim was to examine the routines about assessing cognitive function and delirium in a university hospital and a county hospital in Sweden.

Methods: A web based questionnaire was developed and distributed to 58 managers. The questionnaire addressed routines for identifying cognitive impairment and delirium in clinical practice, for instance which assessment tools, and which terms were used.

Results: The response rate was 43 % (25/58) equally distributed for nurses and physicians managers (43 and 44 %). Study findings showed that structured assessment of cognitive function and delirium were missing. Twelve managers (48 %) had established routines for assessment of cognitive function and seven (28 %) for assessment of delirium. It was unclear how the assessments were performed. Most common was free descriptions based on varying questions. Assessment tools and the term delirium were rarely used.  

Conclusion: Established routines of assessing cognitive function and delirium are missing. Validated rapid clinical assessment tools for cognitive function and delirium are needed as well as consensus to use the term “delirium”.