Project overview
| Duration: | 01.08.2022-31.07.2025 |
| Funding: | G-BA Innovationsfond |
| Project management: | Dr. Bernhard Holle |
| Project coordination: | Jonas Dörner |
| Project staff: | Alexandre Houdelet-Oertel |
| Cooperation partner: | Prof. Dr. Rebecca Palm, Universität Witten-Herdecke Jun. Prof. Dr. Ina Otte, Ruhr-Universität Bochum |
Background
A Delirium is a health-threatening condition associated with confusion, attention deficits and orientation difficulties. Main characteristics are the acute occurrence within hours and days as well as the fluctuating course of symptom manifestations. Especially older people with various risk factors, such as dementia, depression or hearing- and visual impairments, have an increased risk for developing a delirium. The project "Delir in Altenpflegeeinrichtungen" (DeliA) [delirium in nursing homes] is a consortium project in which the University of Witten/Herdecke (UWH) and the Ruhr University of Bochum (RUB) are involved in addition to the DZNE (site Witten).
Project aims
The consortium project has three main aims. (1) to determine the prevalence of delirium in residents of German nursing homes and the significantly associated factors with a special focus on pharmacotherapeutic effects. (responsible: DZNE). (2) A qualitative interview study. Nurses and general practitioners will be interviewed about their experiences with Delirium cases (responsible: RUB). (3) the development of an interdisciplinary e-learning platform for nurses and general practitioners (responsibility: UWH).
Methods
In order to achieve the first project goal (determine the delirium prevalence in German nursing homes), at least n=50 nursing homes will be recruited on the basis of a convenience sample. Within the nursing homes, a random sample of n=750 residents will be recruited. Based on this, the point prevalence and other associated co-variables will be determined.
Using semi-structured interviews, registered nurses and general practitioners (n=30 participants) will be interviewed about their awareness regarding the recognition and prevention of delirium.
For the e-learning platform, a modularised curriculum will be developed. The curriculum is based on current research findings from databases and also includes results from previous sub-projects from the overall project (including systematic reviews). After the development, the platform will be tested through a feasibility study.
Expected results
After a successful prevalence study, relevant evidence-based results for delirium in German nursing homes is available for the first time. On the basis of the indicators and associated factors, a critical discussion for this setting is possible. In this context, the expected results of the interview study on the awareness and handling of nursing staff and general practitioners are also highly relevant. The e-learning platform can serve as the basis of a multimodal intervention.
With targeted prevention, early detection and adequate (if possible non-pharmacological) therapy, the care of nursing home residents can significantly be improved.
