How are agitated patients dealt with in internal medicine departments?

Background: Studies on agitation in internal medicine departments are scarce, especially regarding how doctors and nurses act in these situations. The objective of this study was to clarify how agitation is dealt with in these departments.

Methods: This prospective observational study was performed in the internal medicine departments of four Portuguese hospitals. The researchers at each hospital contacted the nursing team that identifies patients who were agitated in the previous shifts. The researcher reviewed these patients' files, recording the research protocol's parameters.

Results: During the study period, 331 patients were observed; 177 (54%) were female, and the median age was 80 years (19-99). Episodes of agitation occurred in 69 patients (21%); of them, 44 (64%) were female, and the median age was 84 years (31-98). In the first episode of agitation, the doctor on duty was called in 49 times (71%). These doctors prescribed a new medication for the crisis in 30 cases (43%). After the crisis, the assistant doctor recorded the episode in the patient file in 41 cases (59%). According to the medical notes, after the acute phase, in only 21 patients (30%), there was an attempt to clarify the cause of agitation. The prescription after the crisis was regular medication in 32 cases (46%), rescue medication in 27 (39%), and physical restraint in 9 (13%), isolated or in various combinations.

Conclusion: This study suggests that there is room to improve how agitated patients are managed in internal medicine departments.