A multifaceted approach to prevention of delirium on intensive care

"Delirium is a frequent complication of critical illness with an increased risk of death which is difficult to treat effectively. We describe a seven year quality improvement programme that aimed to reduce rates of delirium on intensive care (ICU)."

A multifaceted approach to prevention of delirium on intensive care
J Hanison, D Conway
BMJ Quality Improvement Reports 2015;4: doi:10.1136/bmjquality.u209656.w4000
 Programme

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Promoting vision and hearing aids use in an intensive care unit

"Vision and hearing impairments have long been recognised as modifiable risk factors for delirium.[1,2,3] Delirium in critically ill patients is a frequent complication (reported as high as 60% to 80% of intensive care patients), and is associated with a three-fold increase in mortality and prolonged hospital stay."

Promoting vision and hearing aids use in an intensive care unit
Q Zhou, N Faure Walker
BMJ Quality Improvement Reports 2015;4: doi:10.1136/bmjquality.u206276.w2702

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Confusion: delirium and dementia - a smartphone app to improve cognitive assessment

"The results of this study suggest that the introduction and use of a smartphone app for junior doctors increases the likelihood of older patients receiving a cognitive assessment for detecting delirium and dementia on specialist elderly and orthopaedic trauma wards."

Confusion: delirium and dementia - a smartphone app to improve cognitive assessment
S Sangha, J George, C Winthrop, S Panchal
BMJ Quality Improvement Reports 2015;4: doi:10.1136/bmjquality.u202580.w1592

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Improving early recognition of delirium using SQiD

"Following awareness raising activities, the awareness and use of SQiD increased from 12.5% to 83% and 20% respectively. Incorporating the SQiD question into the care round form delivered 100% awareness and 50% use during testing."

Improving early recognition of delirium using SQiD (Single Question to identify Delirium): a hospital based quality improvement project
E McCleary, P Cumming
BMJ Quality Improvement Reports 2015;4: doi:10.1136/bmjquality.u206598.w2653

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Making health care safer

The Annals of Internal Medicine have published a special edition reviewing the evidence supporting strategies to improve patient safety. The articles included in this issue are:

1. The top patient safety strategies that can be encouraged for adoption now promoting a culture of safety as a patient safety strategy: a systematic review
2. In-facility delirium prevention programs as a patient safety strategy: a systematic review
3. Patient safety strategies targeted at diagnostic errors: a systematic review 
4. Inpatient fall prevention programs as a patient safety strategy: a systematic review
5. Medication reconciliation during transitions of care as a patient safety strategy: a systematic review
6. Nurse–patient ratios as a patient safety strategy: a systematic review
7. Preventing in-facility pressure ulcers as a patient safety strategy: a systematic review
8. Rapid-response systems as a patient safety strategy: a systematic review
9. Simulation exercises as a patient safety strategy: a systematic review
10. Hospital-initiated transitional care interventions as a patient safety strategy: a systematic review

Read the whole issue here.