Abstract

Study Purpose and Design: The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between subsyndromal delirium and pain in older adults following major elective orthopedic surgery. The design of this correlational study was based on Inouye and Charpentier's (1996) multifactorial model of delirium. Methods: Delirium assessments of 62 older adults were completed at 24, 48, and 72 hours following major elective orthopedic surgery. Study measures included: a) the Iowa Pain Thermometer (0-10) pain intensity scale; and b) the Confusion Assessment Method (short form). Data were analyzed for relationships among delirium symptoms and pain, and secondarily, 24-hour opioid intake controlling for preoperative risk factors. Findings: Subsyndromal delirium occurred in 67.9 percent of participants in this study. Increased pain from 0 to 24 hours after surgery had a significant (p<.05) relationship with subsyndromal delirium on the second postoperative day. Similarly, increased pain from 24 to 48 hours had a significant (p<.05) relationship with delirium symptoms on the second postoperative day. Opioid intake was not significantly related to subsyndromal delirium. Conclusions and Implications for Clinical Practice: Findings from this study suggest older adults with higher levels of pain are at higher risk for developing delirium symptoms and subsyndromal delirium on the second day following major elective orthopedic surgery. Improved pain management may help reduce subsyndromal delirium when attention is given to pain on the second postoperative day..

Description

This dissertation has also been disseminated through the ProQuest Dissertations and Theses database. Dissertation/thesis number: 3681066; ProQuest document ID: 1655361383. The author still retains copyright.

Author Details

Dr. Dawn Fuller Denny, PhD RN ONC

Sigma Membership

Eta Upsilon

Type

Dissertation

Format Type

Text-based Document

Study Design/Type

Descriptive/Correlational

Research Approach

Quantitative Research

Keywords:

Delirium in Patients, Surgical Patients, Treatment of Pain

Advisors

Lindseth, Glenda

Degree

PhD

Degree Grantor

The University of North Dakota

Degree Year

2014

Rights Holder

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All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository.

All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.

Review Type

None: Degree-based Submission

Acquisition

Proxy-submission

Date of Issue

2020-05-18

Full Text of Presentation

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