Underdiagnoses and poor documentation of acute confusional states in elderly hip fracture patients.
Yngve: Acute confusional state (Delirium) Gustafsson
Bok Svensk Yngve et al. Gustafson
| Omfang | 14 s.
|
|---|---|
| Utgave | Artikkel i bok
|
| Opplysninger | ABSTRACT: Acute confusional state (ACS), or delirium as defined by DSM-III, is a common and severe complication following a great number of diseases especially in elderly people, ACS has, by definition, one or more causes that can often be identified and treated. This study compares the results from two clinical studies with the results of case note studies of the same populations of patients and on the same care occasions. All patients were 65 or older and operated on for femoral neck fractures. All comparisons showed that both physicians and nurses diagnosed ACS unsatifactorily and documanted the patients' mental states poorly. The analysis of two retrospective case note control samples gave the same results. Neither the physicians nor the nurses used any kind of diagnostic instrument to detect cognitive disorder in the patients. The poor assessment and documentation of ACS is a threat to the patients, as a correct diagnosis of ACS is a prerequisite for further assessment of its underlying causes and the consequent necessary medical and nursing care.
|
| Emner |
