{
  "abstract": "Background Delirium is a serious and distressing condition, which commonly affects people with life-limiting illness. It often goes undiagnosed and hence under-treated (Woodhouse, Siddiqi, Boland, et al. BMJ Support Palliat Care. 2022;12(2):187-190). We sought to implement a range of initiatives to improve delirium care in two hospice inpatient units.Aim To assess the impact of implementing initiatives to improve delirium practice in two hospice inpatient units.Method At baseline, we conducted a case note audit and administered an online anonymous questionnaire to multidisciplinary hospice staff. Next, a range of initiatives were developed and implemented, including (i) brief ad hoc onsite staff training; (ii) educational videos for staff and carers (iii) a delirium education PowerPoint resource; as well as (iv) ongoing engagement with service managers. After a 12-month intervention period, case notes were re-audited, and the questionnaire redistributed, to explore whether the activities undertaken had improved delirium practice.Results Based on an audit of case notes (N=200), screening for delirium using a validated tool increased from 25% at baseline, to 49% after the intervention. Similarly, the proportion of patients judged retrospectively as having delirium, who had the term ‘delirium’ documented in their case notes increased from 34% to 58%. Fewer staff completed the questionnaire at follow-up (N=19 compared to N=45 at baseline), however, responses indicated improvements in self-reported understanding and management of delirium. 79% of respondents agreed they had received adequate training in delirium at follow-up (compared to 41% at baseline).Conclusion Brief training initiatives were linked with improvements in delirium practice over a 12-month period. Despite increases in delirium assessment, delirium was not routinely documented in case notes at follow-up. Self-reported improvements in delirium knowledge and skills were not always demonstrated in clinical practice. Further initiatives are required to embed delirium guidelines and evidence into routine practice.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Marie Curie Hospice, Edinburgh, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Elizabeth Arnold"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Marie Curie Hospice, Edinburgh, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Hilary Nailon"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Marie Curie Hospice, Edinburgh, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Gemma Chilcott"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Marie Curie Hospice, Edinburgh, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Scott McIIdowie"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Marie Curie Hospice, Edinburgh, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Angela McCullagh"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Marie Curie Hospice, Edinburgh, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Juliet Spiller"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Alasdair MacLullich"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Wolfson Palliative Care Research Centre, Hull York Medical School, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Mark Pearson"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Anne Finucane"
    }
  ],
  "title": "P-70 Improving delirium assessment in two hospice inpatient units: findings from an audit and questionnaire study",
  "uid": "70ea5467-8737-5a03-b4b3-b51740b531d7"
}