Increasing delirium skills at the front door: results from a repeated survey on delirium knowledge and attitudes

Rodric Peter Llewelyn Jenkin; Adam Al-Attar; Sarah Richardson; Phyo Kyaw Myint; Alasdair M J MacLullich; Daniel H J Davis

doi:10.1093/ageing/afw066

Increasing delirium skills at the front door: results from a repeated survey on delirium knowledge and attitudes

Rodric Peter Llewelyn Jenkin, Adam Al-Attar, Sarah Richardson, Phyo Kyaw Myint, Alasdair M J MacLullich, Daniel H J Davis

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: delirium is under-recognised in comparison to other common and serious acute disorders. A 2006 survey of UK junior doctors (not undertaking specialist training) identified poor knowledge of the diagnostic criteria and treatment of delirium. We hypothesised that increased prominence accorded to delirium in the form of national initiatives and guidelines may have had an impact on understanding among junior doctors.

OBJECTIVE: we repeated a multi-centre survey of knowledge of and attitudes to delirium in junior doctors (not undertaking specialist training) assessing unselected acute medical presentations (the 'medical take').

DESIGN: questionnaire-based survey in 48 acute hospitals in UK and Ireland.

METHODS: we used questionnaires designed to test understanding of delirium, including prevalence, knowledge of the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria, use of specific screening tools, association with adverse outcomes and pharmacological management.

RESULTS: one thousand two hundred and fifteen trainee physicians participated. Compared with the 2006 cohort, improvements were seen in 9 of 17 knowledge-based questions and overall score improved in the 2013 cohort. Nonetheless, significant deficits in knowledge, particularly for the diagnostic criteria for delirium, remained.

CONCLUSIONS: despite improvements in some aspects of delirium knowledge, the diagnostic criteria for delirium remain poorly understood. Challenges remain in ensuring adequate training for junior doctors in delirium.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	517-522
Number of pages	6
Journal	Age and Ageing
Volume	45
Issue number	4
Early online date	26 Apr 2016
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afw066
Publication status	Published - Jul 2016

Keywords

delirium
survey
geriatric medicine

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Accepted Manuscript
This is a pre-copyedited, author-produced PDF of an article accepted for publication in Age and Ageing following peer review. The version of record Rodric Peter Llewelyn Jenkin, Adam Al-Attar, Sarah Richardson, Phyo Kyaw Myint, Alasdair M. J. MacLullich, and Daniel H. J. Davis Increasing delirium skills at the front door: results from a repeated survey on delirium knowledge and attitudes Age Ageing (2016) 45 (4): 517-522 first published online April 26, 2016 is available online at doi:10.1093/ageing/afw066
Accepted author manuscript, 127 KBLicence: Unspecified

Cite this

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abstract = "BACKGROUND: delirium is under-recognised in comparison to other common and serious acute disorders. A 2006 survey of UK junior doctors (not undertaking specialist training) identified poor knowledge of the diagnostic criteria and treatment of delirium. We hypothesised that increased prominence accorded to delirium in the form of national initiatives and guidelines may have had an impact on understanding among junior doctors.OBJECTIVE: we repeated a multi-centre survey of knowledge of and attitudes to delirium in junior doctors (not undertaking specialist training) assessing unselected acute medical presentations (the 'medical take').DESIGN: questionnaire-based survey in 48 acute hospitals in UK and Ireland.METHODS: we used questionnaires designed to test understanding of delirium, including prevalence, knowledge of the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria, use of specific screening tools, association with adverse outcomes and pharmacological management.RESULTS: one thousand two hundred and fifteen trainee physicians participated. Compared with the 2006 cohort, improvements were seen in 9 of 17 knowledge-based questions and overall score improved in the 2013 cohort. Nonetheless, significant deficits in knowledge, particularly for the diagnostic criteria for delirium, remained.CONCLUSIONS: despite improvements in some aspects of delirium knowledge, the diagnostic criteria for delirium remain poorly understood. Challenges remain in ensuring adequate training for junior doctors in delirium.",

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AU - Richardson, Sarah

AU - Myint, Phyo Kyaw

AU - MacLullich, Alasdair M J

AU - Davis, Daniel H J

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N2 - BACKGROUND: delirium is under-recognised in comparison to other common and serious acute disorders. A 2006 survey of UK junior doctors (not undertaking specialist training) identified poor knowledge of the diagnostic criteria and treatment of delirium. We hypothesised that increased prominence accorded to delirium in the form of national initiatives and guidelines may have had an impact on understanding among junior doctors.OBJECTIVE: we repeated a multi-centre survey of knowledge of and attitudes to delirium in junior doctors (not undertaking specialist training) assessing unselected acute medical presentations (the 'medical take').DESIGN: questionnaire-based survey in 48 acute hospitals in UK and Ireland.METHODS: we used questionnaires designed to test understanding of delirium, including prevalence, knowledge of the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria, use of specific screening tools, association with adverse outcomes and pharmacological management.RESULTS: one thousand two hundred and fifteen trainee physicians participated. Compared with the 2006 cohort, improvements were seen in 9 of 17 knowledge-based questions and overall score improved in the 2013 cohort. Nonetheless, significant deficits in knowledge, particularly for the diagnostic criteria for delirium, remained.CONCLUSIONS: despite improvements in some aspects of delirium knowledge, the diagnostic criteria for delirium remain poorly understood. Challenges remain in ensuring adequate training for junior doctors in delirium.

AB - BACKGROUND: delirium is under-recognised in comparison to other common and serious acute disorders. A 2006 survey of UK junior doctors (not undertaking specialist training) identified poor knowledge of the diagnostic criteria and treatment of delirium. We hypothesised that increased prominence accorded to delirium in the form of national initiatives and guidelines may have had an impact on understanding among junior doctors.OBJECTIVE: we repeated a multi-centre survey of knowledge of and attitudes to delirium in junior doctors (not undertaking specialist training) assessing unselected acute medical presentations (the 'medical take').DESIGN: questionnaire-based survey in 48 acute hospitals in UK and Ireland.METHODS: we used questionnaires designed to test understanding of delirium, including prevalence, knowledge of the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria, use of specific screening tools, association with adverse outcomes and pharmacological management.RESULTS: one thousand two hundred and fifteen trainee physicians participated. Compared with the 2006 cohort, improvements were seen in 9 of 17 knowledge-based questions and overall score improved in the 2013 cohort. Nonetheless, significant deficits in knowledge, particularly for the diagnostic criteria for delirium, remained.CONCLUSIONS: despite improvements in some aspects of delirium knowledge, the diagnostic criteria for delirium remain poorly understood. Challenges remain in ensuring adequate training for junior doctors in delirium.

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JO - Age and Ageing

JF - Age and Ageing

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Increasing delirium skills at the front door: results from a repeated survey on delirium knowledge and attitudes

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