Piyatida Boonphadh. The incidence of acute confusional states and associated factors in postoperative elderly patients . Master's Degree(Adult Nursing). Mahidol University. : Mahidol University, 2004.
The incidence of acute confusional states and associated factors in postoperative elderly patients
Abstract:
Acute confusional states is a common complication that has a serious impact
on the recovery of elderly-postoperative patients. Early detection, diagnosis, control of
risk factors, and proper management when acute confusional state symptoms occur
can minimize the other possible complications. A study to understand factors involved
in the occurrence of acute confusional states is therefore necessary in order to take
appropriate actions in preventing, monitoring, and properly managing the problem.
In this descriptive research, the main objective is to study incidence and factors
involved in the occurrence of acute confusional states in elderly patients with major
surgery. The study was at a central hospital of a province in the upper-southern part of
Thailand during May to October, 2003, the sample totaled 199 patients. The samples
were chosen according to specific qualifications. An acute confusional states was
defined by the Thai version of the Delirium Rating Scale. The data were collected by
interviewing, observation, and chart review. The data were analyzed by SPSS/FW
statistical software.
The results revealed that 18.10% of total samples experience occurrence of
acute confusional states. The dates of occurrence were 1 to 3 days postoperation. The
factors significantly related to acute confusional states, found in this study, were
hypotension, low serum albumin level, low serum sodium level, history of alcohol
drinking, and severe pain (intensity, distress, and sleep disturbance from pain), with a
.05, .001, .05, .05, .001, .001 and .001 statistical significance level respectively. These
could predict the occurrence of acute confusional states of postoperative elderly
patients with an accuracy 1.9 to 14.8 times greater than without consideration of the
factors (95% C I = 1.1-4.0, 2.6-7.7, 1.1-3.7, 1.1-3.4, 2.1-105.2, 2.0-20.5 and 2.4-23.8,
respectively).The results from this study are beneficial for further detection and
prevention of acute confusional states. This study can be used as a fundamental for
further research in this field.