'It's tough. It is hard': A qualitative interview study of staff and volunteers caring for hospice in-patients with delirium.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Delirium is a distressing condition often experienced by hospice in-patients. Increased understanding of current multidisciplinary care of delirium is needed to develop interventions in this setting.

Aim(s)

To explore hospice staff and volunteers' practice, its influences and what may need to change to improve hospice delirium care.

Design

Qualitative interview study using behaviour change theory from a critical realist stance.

Setting/participants

Thirty-seven staff, including different professional groups and roles, and volunteers were purposively sampled from two in-patient hospices.

Results

We found that participants' practice focus was on managing hyperactive symptoms of delirium, through medication use and non-pharmacological strategies.

SUBMITTER: Featherstone I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10320705 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature