Occupational Therapy-Led Delirium Management in Long-Term Acute Care: A Pilot

Abstract

Abstract Aim To investigate the feasibility of occupational therapy-led multidisciplinary delirium management interventions in a long-term acute care hospital to decrease incidence of delirium and increase independence for self-care. Methods Convenience sampling was used to recruit eight patients in a long-term acute care hospital for a pretest/posttest delirium management pilot study. Interventions included mobility, functional cognition, sensory deficit correction, self-care, and sleep interventions. Delirium was assessed using the ICDSC and the CAM-ICU; self-care outcomes were measured using the AM-PAC “6 clicks” Daily Activities Short Form. Results One participant decreased delirium incidence and increased self-care independence following the intervention. However, participants in aggregate had a 25% decrease in delirium incidence. Conclusion Occupational therapy interventions may positively impact delirium incidence in long-term acute care hospital patients, but interdisciplinary team management with collaborative team interventions may be necessary to extend the impact to patient functional outcomes.