Translating knowledge into practice

Postoperative delirium in postanaesthetic care units: Translating knowledge into practice

Effective delirium care is important because delirium increases hospital length of stay, falls, use of psychotropic medications, recurrent delirium, dementia, relocation to a nursing home, family carer burden and mortality.

Delirium care research has recently increased but one area yet to be fully explored is Perianaesthetic Care Units (PACUs). Understanding the role of PACUs in delirium care remains limited . PACUs are responsible for the immediate postoperative care of patients before they are transferred to a ward. PACU nurses are in a unique position to screen for and diagnose POD early in the postoperative patient journey, implement early management strategies and prevent POD. The focus of this project is to work with PACU nurses to develop and trial the implementation of a POD protocol for PACUs. This will make a much needed contribution to a gap in understanding about POD care.

The overall aim of this project is to improve screening, diagnosis, management and prevention of postoperative delirium (POD) in postanaesthetic care units (PACUs).

There are two phases to the project:

• Phase One: generate an international understanding about the knowledge of POD care and current practice, including the use of protocols among PACU staff through an online survey; and

• Phase Two: (i) work with practitioners to develop a POD care protocol for PACU (screening, diagnosis, management and prevention of delirium); and (ii) trial the implementation of the POD care protocol.

Chief Investigators:

Jessica Nealon, SMAH/Graduate Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Wollongong Australia jnealon@uow.edu.au

Nicole Britten, Emergency Department, Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District (ISLHD), Australia

Ezinne Igwe, SMAH/Graduate Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Wollongong Australia

Prof. Victoria Traynor, SMAH/Graduate Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Wollongong Australia

Associate Investigators:

Prof. Valerie Wilson, SMAH/Graduate Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Wollongong Australia

Miriam Coyle, Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District (ISLHD), Australia

Dr. Sheila Rodgers (Nursing Studies, University of Edinburgh / Hon. Nurse Consultant in Critical Care, NHS Lothian) s.rodgers@ed.ac.uk