Research aims to demystify delirium
It is a serious and distressing condition, yet there is limited research on delirium care.
A study is bringing together patients, carers, and clinicians to identify the top 10 priority questions about delirium.
Its aim is to ensure that researchers and funders focus on what really matters to patients with delirium or at risk of delirium – for example, people living with delirium or frailty or serious illness such as cancer, or requiring major surgery, their carers, and clinicians.
Delirium is:
A sudden change to a person’s mental state that can be related to the effects of illness, injury, having surgery, medicines, or withdrawal from drugs or alcohol
A medical condition, which is often not recognised and needs urgent medical care
A temporary condition that develops quickly over hours or days but can last a few days or weeks
Different from dementia, which occurs more gradually and for a longer time, but both can happen at the same time
More common in older people and people living with dementia but can affect anyone.
People with delirium can find it hard to:
Deal with the symptoms, such as seeing or hearing things that are not there
Trust the people caring for them
Manage emotions
Communicate their needs
Make decisions
Care for themselves.
Delirium can be frightening. It can lead to slower recovery from illness, and longer hospital stays.
The research project is facilitated by the James Lind Alliance (JLA), a UK-based, non-profit initiative, which brings patients, carers, and clinicians together in a priority setting partnership to identify and prioritise questions that have not been answered by previous research.
The project is funded by the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospitals and by the University of Technology Sydney and has been approved by the Metro North Human Research Ethics Committee in Brisbane.
Who should take part in this study?
People who have had delirium.
People who have cared for someone with delirium.
People with health conditions that increase the risk of delirium (for example, people living with frailty, dementia, or cancer), and their carers or family members.
Healthcare staff who look after people with or at risk of delirium.
You can find our more and complete the survey here.
Related reading: UTS
