Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia
Corso di laurea in infermieristica - Sede di Modena
| Thesis Title | Pharmacological or non-pharmacological treatment? Nursing care to the elderly patient with delirium |
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| Name | Pagani Anna |
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| Supervisor(s) | Mussi Chiara |
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| Academic Year | 2021/22 |
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| Thesis type | Non research thesis |
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Abstract
Delirium, also known as acute confusional state, is defined as a global cognitive disorder, acute onset and transient duration, that manifests itself in impaired cognitive function and affects geriatric patients very frequently. Despite this, it is often under diagnosed and misinterpreted. This work consists of three chapters, the first of which is intended to be a general overview of delirium, with reference to definition, epidemiology, classification, clinical picture, pathophysiology and risk factors, to conclude with the tools needed to make diagnosis and outcomes. In the second chapter, the key element is nursing in all its aspects, from prevention to both pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment, to the education of the caregiver, also supported by the development of an information booklet. The third and final chapter concerns a case report, used to support the thesis that the non-pharmacological approach to the elderly with delirium is the priority and also the winning one. The main objective of the report is, having declined all possible types of care, to highlight the importance of a non-drug nursing approach, both in the prevention and treatment of delirium in the elderly, rather than using what is called "pharmacological restraint". Several sources have been used for bibliographic research, including PubMed, Cochrane, Google Scholar, UpToDate and Geriatrics manuals. As for the keywords of the work, they include: delirium, elderly, pharmacological, non-pharmacological, caregiver.
