Lived experience of delirium in the community
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The exploration of the lived experience of delirium by patients, families, nurses, doctors and therapists.
IRAS ID
229243
Contact name
Joanne Brooke
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Oxford Brookes University
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 3 days
Research summary
The purpose of this study is to understand the lived experience of delirium in the community from the perspectives of patients, family members, qualified nurses, junior doctors and therapists.
Prevalence of delirium in older adults living at home without a diagnosis of dementia or cognitive impairment has been estimated from 0.5% to 1.3% and is associated with higher mortality. In older adults living at home with dementia the prevalence of delirium increases and is estimated to range from 13% to 22%, this condition referred to as delirium superimposed on dementia (DSD).
The importance of identifying delirium early is that it is considered to have an underlying acute medical cause and with prompt assessment, detection and treatment delirium is a reversible condition. Nurses working in community settings can identify risk factors in their older patients and implement a preventive approach to support or restore health among these vulnerable patients.
Under recognition of delirium by nurses in acute and community settings has been reported. A recent study completed in Canada suggested community nurses had limited knowledge on delirium and appropriate screening tools, although 54.4% were able to identify delirium from case studies.
Education and training impacts on the care patients with delirium receive and improves their outcomes in Intensive Care Departments and on Orthopaedic wards, but there is little or no information on patients with delirium in the community.
This study proposes to interview patients, their family members, nurses, doctors and therapists from two community NHS Foundation Trusts to understand their experiences of delirium. This process will identify the needs of staff, patients and family members, and inform the development of a training and education package, and a knowledge questionnaire for community healthcare professionals.
REC name
West Midlands - Black Country Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/WM/0440
Date of REC Opinion
4 Jan 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion