Measuring the distress related to delirium in older surgical patients and their relatives

Judith S.L. Partridge; Siobhan Crichton; Elizabeth Biswell; Danielle Harari; Finbarr C. Martin; Jugdeep K. Dhesi

doi:10.1002/gps.5110

Measuring the distress related to delirium in older surgical patients and their relatives

Judith S.L. Partridge^*, Siobhan Crichton, Elizabeth Biswell, Danielle Harari, Finbarr C. Martin, Jugdeep K. Dhesi

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

10 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Objectives:

Delirium is a common postoperative complication with implications on morbidity and mortality. Less is known about the psychological impact of delirium in patients and relatives. This study aimed to quantitatively describe distress related to postoperative delirium in older surgical patients and their relatives using the distress thermometer, examine the association between degree of distress and features of delirium on the Delirium Rating Scale (DRS), and examine the association between recall of delirium and features of delirium on the DRS.

Methods:

This prospective study recruited postoperative patients and their relatives following delirium. The distress thermometer was used to examine the degree of distress pertaining to delirium and was conducted during the hospitalization on resolution of delirium and then at 12-month follow-up. Associations between delirium-related distress in patient and relative participants and severity and features of delirium (DRS) were examined.

Results:

One hundred two patients and 49 relatives were recruited. Median scores on the distress thermometer in patients who recalled delirium were 8/10. Relatives also showed distress (median distress thermometer score of 8/10). Associations were observed between severity and phenotypic features of delirium (delusions, labile affect, and agitation). Distress persisted at 12 months in patients and relatives.

Conclusion:

Distress related to postoperative delirium can be measured using a distress thermometer. Alongside approaches to reduce delirium incidence, interventions to minimize distress from postoperative delirium should be sought. Such interventions should be developed through robust research and if effective administered to patients, relatives, or carers.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1070-1077
Number of pages	8
Journal	International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry
Volume	34
Issue number	7
Early online date	4 Apr 2019
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/gps.5110
Publication status	Published - 1 Jul 2019

Keywords

carer and relative distress
distress thermometer
older people
postoperative delirium
psychological and emotional distress

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1002/gps.5110

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title = "Measuring the distress related to delirium in older surgical patients and their relatives",

abstract = "Objectives: Delirium is a common postoperative complication with implications on morbidity and mortality. Less is known about the psychological impact of delirium in patients and relatives. This study aimed to quantitatively describe distress related to postoperative delirium in older surgical patients and their relatives using the distress thermometer, examine the association between degree of distress and features of delirium on the Delirium Rating Scale (DRS), and examine the association between recall of delirium and features of delirium on the DRS. Methods: This prospective study recruited postoperative patients and their relatives following delirium. The distress thermometer was used to examine the degree of distress pertaining to delirium and was conducted during the hospitalization on resolution of delirium and then at 12-month follow-up. Associations between delirium-related distress in patient and relative participants and severity and features of delirium (DRS) were examined. Results: One hundred two patients and 49 relatives were recruited. Median scores on the distress thermometer in patients who recalled delirium were 8/10. Relatives also showed distress (median distress thermometer score of 8/10). Associations were observed between severity and phenotypic features of delirium (delusions, labile affect, and agitation). Distress persisted at 12 months in patients and relatives. Conclusion: Distress related to postoperative delirium can be measured using a distress thermometer. Alongside approaches to reduce delirium incidence, interventions to minimize distress from postoperative delirium should be sought. Such interventions should be developed through robust research and if effective administered to patients, relatives, or carers.",

keywords = "carer and relative distress, distress thermometer, older people, postoperative delirium, psychological and emotional distress",

author = "Partridge, {Judith S.L.} and Siobhan Crichton and Elizabeth Biswell and Danielle Harari and Martin, {Finbarr C.} and Dhesi, {Jugdeep K.}",

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AU - Partridge, Judith S.L.

AU - Crichton, Siobhan

AU - Biswell, Elizabeth

AU - Harari, Danielle

AU - Martin, Finbarr C.

AU - Dhesi, Jugdeep K.

PY - 2019/7/1

Y1 - 2019/7/1

N2 - Objectives: Delirium is a common postoperative complication with implications on morbidity and mortality. Less is known about the psychological impact of delirium in patients and relatives. This study aimed to quantitatively describe distress related to postoperative delirium in older surgical patients and their relatives using the distress thermometer, examine the association between degree of distress and features of delirium on the Delirium Rating Scale (DRS), and examine the association between recall of delirium and features of delirium on the DRS. Methods: This prospective study recruited postoperative patients and their relatives following delirium. The distress thermometer was used to examine the degree of distress pertaining to delirium and was conducted during the hospitalization on resolution of delirium and then at 12-month follow-up. Associations between delirium-related distress in patient and relative participants and severity and features of delirium (DRS) were examined. Results: One hundred two patients and 49 relatives were recruited. Median scores on the distress thermometer in patients who recalled delirium were 8/10. Relatives also showed distress (median distress thermometer score of 8/10). Associations were observed between severity and phenotypic features of delirium (delusions, labile affect, and agitation). Distress persisted at 12 months in patients and relatives. Conclusion: Distress related to postoperative delirium can be measured using a distress thermometer. Alongside approaches to reduce delirium incidence, interventions to minimize distress from postoperative delirium should be sought. Such interventions should be developed through robust research and if effective administered to patients, relatives, or carers.

AB - Objectives: Delirium is a common postoperative complication with implications on morbidity and mortality. Less is known about the psychological impact of delirium in patients and relatives. This study aimed to quantitatively describe distress related to postoperative delirium in older surgical patients and their relatives using the distress thermometer, examine the association between degree of distress and features of delirium on the Delirium Rating Scale (DRS), and examine the association between recall of delirium and features of delirium on the DRS. Methods: This prospective study recruited postoperative patients and their relatives following delirium. The distress thermometer was used to examine the degree of distress pertaining to delirium and was conducted during the hospitalization on resolution of delirium and then at 12-month follow-up. Associations between delirium-related distress in patient and relative participants and severity and features of delirium (DRS) were examined. Results: One hundred two patients and 49 relatives were recruited. Median scores on the distress thermometer in patients who recalled delirium were 8/10. Relatives also showed distress (median distress thermometer score of 8/10). Associations were observed between severity and phenotypic features of delirium (delusions, labile affect, and agitation). Distress persisted at 12 months in patients and relatives. Conclusion: Distress related to postoperative delirium can be measured using a distress thermometer. Alongside approaches to reduce delirium incidence, interventions to minimize distress from postoperative delirium should be sought. Such interventions should be developed through robust research and if effective administered to patients, relatives, or carers.

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KW - distress thermometer

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KW - postoperative delirium

KW - psychological and emotional distress

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Measuring the distress related to delirium in older surgical patients and their relatives

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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