There is a lot of effort in NHS Scotland to raise awareness among healthcare staff about delirium, using statements like this:
Delirium is a very complex state and it is a shame that awareness is not always accompanied by understanding of this complexity. This is not surprising as delirium is poorly understood. It remains unclear to what extent delirium is itself a risk factor for mortality, rather than simply reflecting a multi-morbid state where each condition carries its own risks:
[the above is an excerpt from Inside Health last week]
The following slides come from recent awareness-raising events in NHS Scotland:
These “busy slides” perhaps do reflect some appreciation of the complexity of delirium. What appears to be lacking is meaningful and informed involvement of patients:
Margaret McCartney stated in this:
In her book “The Patient Paradox” Margaret McCartney said:
All awareness campaigns can suffer from the difficulty of communicating complexity and recognising gaps in understanding. Oversimplified approaches to what is undoubtedly a serious condition could have unintended consequences and this has to be given serious consideration.
Reblogged this on Chrys Muirhead .