IMPLEMENTATION OF A DELIRIUM SCREENING TOOL VS STANDARD PHARMACOLOGICAL INTERVENTIONS
Disciplines
Critical Care Nursing
Abstract (300 words maximum)
Background: Delirium is a common medical problem occurring in patients, especially those admitted to the ICU. Many nurses are unfamiliar with existing delirium identification tools and delirium is often overlooked, despite such a high prevalence. There is also evidence that current pharmacological treatment methods are not effective. Without this issue being addressed, patients will likely deal with repercussions that could have possibly been prevented. Purpose: There are several pharmacological methods currently used to help treat delirium. However, many research studies have shown that there is no significant effect of these methods on delirium. Once delirium has been diagnosed, it is harder to treat. Therefore, earlier detection of the onset of delirium and interventions focused on preventing delirium may be more beneficial, resulting in less days in the ICU and a lesser duration of delirium. A new protocol will be created that ensures nurses check the delirium status of each patient every two hours. Methods: Data will be collected from five ICUs over a six-month period on patients staying in the unit longer than 24 hours. Nurses will obtain proficiency in a delirium screening tool. The tool will then be implemented every two hours on each patient, with traditional interventions started as soon as the onset of delirium is detected. Results: To evaluate this research project, data will be collected and analyzed regarding the effects and impacts of interventions. We will compare this data with numbers from the previous six months, before the new protocol was implemented. We will compare the length of stay of patients diagnosed with delirium and determine if the duration of delirium was significantly altered or not. This research project will be deemed successful if there is lesser incidence of delirium and/or the duration of delirium is significantly lessened on average.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
Nursing
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Dr. Christie Emerson
Additional Faculty
Melissa Chason, Nursing, mchason@kennesaw.edu
IMPLEMENTATION OF A DELIRIUM SCREENING TOOL VS STANDARD PHARMACOLOGICAL INTERVENTIONS
Background: Delirium is a common medical problem occurring in patients, especially those admitted to the ICU. Many nurses are unfamiliar with existing delirium identification tools and delirium is often overlooked, despite such a high prevalence. There is also evidence that current pharmacological treatment methods are not effective. Without this issue being addressed, patients will likely deal with repercussions that could have possibly been prevented. Purpose: There are several pharmacological methods currently used to help treat delirium. However, many research studies have shown that there is no significant effect of these methods on delirium. Once delirium has been diagnosed, it is harder to treat. Therefore, earlier detection of the onset of delirium and interventions focused on preventing delirium may be more beneficial, resulting in less days in the ICU and a lesser duration of delirium. A new protocol will be created that ensures nurses check the delirium status of each patient every two hours. Methods: Data will be collected from five ICUs over a six-month period on patients staying in the unit longer than 24 hours. Nurses will obtain proficiency in a delirium screening tool. The tool will then be implemented every two hours on each patient, with traditional interventions started as soon as the onset of delirium is detected. Results: To evaluate this research project, data will be collected and analyzed regarding the effects and impacts of interventions. We will compare this data with numbers from the previous six months, before the new protocol was implemented. We will compare the length of stay of patients diagnosed with delirium and determine if the duration of delirium was significantly altered or not. This research project will be deemed successful if there is lesser incidence of delirium and/or the duration of delirium is significantly lessened on average.