Delirium care in hospices: a focused ethnography
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Delirium prevention and management in hospice in-patient units: a focused ethnography.
IRAS ID
266257
Contact name
Imogen Featherstone
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of York
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Why are we doing this project? \nWe want to understand how hospice staff and volunteers try to prevent delirium and care for patients who have delirium.Delirium is a condition in which people become confused quickly due to physical illnesses. It is common and distressing for hospice patients and their families. There has been little research into the best ways to prevent delirium, and care for patients with delirium, in hospices. \nWhat will we do? \nA researcher will spend 6-8 weeks in the in-patient units of two hospices observing staff and volunteers to understand how they care for people with delirium and try to prevent people from getting delirium. A range of people involved in care of patients with delirium will be included (doctors, nurses, health care assistants, therapists, volunteers). During the observations, the researcher may talk with the people she is observing, to help her understand more about delirium prevention and care. \nFollowing the observations, a small number (5-8) of interviews will be carried out with staff and volunteers at each hospice. These interviews will help to further understand what has been observed, views of current delirium prevention and care, and whether this could be improved. \nWhat will we achieve?\nThe findings from this study will help to identify current practice and any areas for improvement in delirium prevention and care in hospices. The findings will be used to help to design an intervention to improve care of patients who are at risk of, or have developed, delirium in hospices. \n\n\n
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Bradford Leeds Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/YH/0323
Date of REC Opinion
28 Oct 2019
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion