Abstract
Introduction:
Delirium is a common presentation in older people and associated with falls risk, longer inpatient stay, post-discharge institutionalisation, accelerated cognitive decline and higher mortality. While median duration of delirium is reported as 1 week but for one third patients, symptoms may persist 3 months or more, even a proportion of patients will never fully recover to their pre-delirium cognitive baseline. It is essential we are sharing the diagnosis with people and their relatives in order to provide information, facilitate discussions around the risks of hospital versus home, reduce distress and highlight the role that carers play in delirium management. Physicians should be aware that delirium sufferers often have an awareness of their experience and for affected person and their family, delirium can be a cause of significant distress. Identification of risk factors, education, and a systematic approach to management can improve the outcome and experience of the syndrome [1].
Aim: To provide delirium education and Improve documentation up to 95 % in GAU.
Methodology:
- Prospective data collection.
- Jan 2023 to March 2023.
- Monthly data analysis of 20 patients in GAU with the confirmed diagnosis of delirium.
- PDSA 1 Departmental teaching and SIGN delirium leaflet awareness and availability .
- PDSA 2 Poster as Visual prompt.
Results:
After 2 PDSA cycles, we noticed significant improvement in delirium education and documentation up to 95%. A further Qi project is ongoing to embed the TIME bundle within our daily practices which will hopefully ensure that this improvement is sustained by giving another prompt to discuss and document diagnosis.
Conclusion:
Along with prompt diagnosis and management, good educational approach and clear documentation will lead to improve understanding about delirium, reduce distress and facilitate safe early discharge.
Reference
Healthcare Improvement Scotland SIGN
Risk reduction and management of delirium
March 2019
Comments
Topical
I think this is a good project with communication being so fundamentally important.
I am a little unclear from the poster exactly what was done, to whom and what was recorded. The layout is good though.
Thanks Dr Jelley
what was done/ to whom
Whole idea of QIP was to educate patient and family about nature of delirium and its potential triggers to relieve their anxiety that it is common, treatable and temporary.
what was recorded.
Delirium education provided to Mr.XYZ and Mrs.XYZ (Wife/NOK) and SIGN delirium leaflet handed over.
In our EPR (electronic patient record) and discharge letters (to measure our practice)
Let me know if you want to know anything.