Non-pharmacological Prevention of Delirium in Patients Hospitalized on Internal Geriatric Ward – Design and Efficiency Evaluation of Wholesome Contact Project (part of Symposium:The Wholesome Contact)

Abstract

Delirium is the most frequent complication of hospitalization in elders. Delirium is treatable with anti-psychotic drugs but, due to their iatrogenic effect and worse prognosis after delirium onset, screening for risk factors and prevention are most efficient management of it. The innovative, interdisciplinary, multifactorial, volunteers-based non-pharmacological delirium prevention was founded on internal geriatric ward. Aim of the speech is to present the programme that is still in process of design and initial results of evidence-based evaluation research on its efficiency. Details of research design, advantages and difficulties of cunducting study in highly contextualized hospital environment will be discussed. The efficiency and cost-effectiveness of delirium prevention on the ward is evaluated retrospectively. Medical documentation of every patient introduced to the programme (patients being in logical contact and over the age of 70). Initial results will be available in spring after completing the first phase of the research. Randomized clinical trial is also planned in future phases of programme evaluation. Details of the design will be discussed during the presentation.