HOW IS DELIRIUM IDENTIFIED ?
There are validated screening tools for delirium that any member of the multidisciplinary team can use . Dietitians are often involved in the care of patients at risk of delirium ( see beside ), so we are ideally placed to identify delirium as part of our routine nutritional assessment . We can use screening tools such as
the 4As test , or simply look for key indicators of delirium such as :
• Poor alertness
• Inattention ( e . g . unable to follow your questions or easily distracted )
• Poor cognition ( e . g . disoriented to the day or place ; issues recalling what they ate for lunch )
If you are concerned about a change in a patient ’ s behaviour or cognition , you should inform the multidisciplinary team so the doctor can conduct a formal delirium assessment .
Dietitians are often involved in the care of patients at risk of delirium ... so we are ideally placed to identify delirium ...
© Dietitian Connection 32 Infuse | October 2021