Relationship centred care approaches in dementia and delirium care
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Caring for hospital patients with delirium superimposed on dementia and their family carers: an appreciative inquiry
IRAS ID
280075
Contact name
Claire Goodman
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Hertfordshire
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 3 months, 0 days
Research summary
People living with dementia are at a higher risk of developing delirium than those without. When admitted to acute care, this often goes unrecognised and may be misinterpreted as behavioural challenges associated with dementia. People with dementia during their hospital stay are at high risk of developing delirium. This leads to unfavourable outcomes such as an extended length of stay, occurrence of adverse events such as (falls, issues related to nutrition and hydration, higher risk of harm, as a result of this of admission leading to institutional care and mortality). While there has been much work focusing on the prevalence and incidence of delirium in this high risk group and teaching programmes there appears to be little evidence on how the relationship between heath care staff and family carers could enhance the care of this patient group. National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) 2010 highlighted the need for facilitating regular visits from family and friends and encourages families to talk to health care professionals about sudden changes in the patients' condition. The Recent Sign 157 (2019) Guidelines report that delirium is associated with significant patient and carer stress. Despite this, there remains uncertainty about how to support someone with delirium when superimposed on dementia. The aim of the study is to understand what approaches between health care professionals and family carers may support the prevention and recognition of delirium in a person with dementia. Data collection will use appreciative observations of staff, family carer and patient interactions. Interviews with patients living with dementia,staff and family carers.
REC name
East of England - Essex Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/EE/0144
Date of REC Opinion
24 Aug 2022
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion