Southern Cross University's innovative delirium research has been recognised by the federal government, with $1.3 million awarded in the latest Partnership Projects round from the National Health and Medical Research Council.
Delirium is a common, frightening and costly hospital complication that causes confusion and negative outcomes for older Australian adults and their family carers.
Led by Associate Professor Christina Aggar in the Faculty of Health, the three-year research project A novel approach to partnering with family carers in the prevention of delirium aims to reduce the incidence of delirium and associated hospital costs and ultimately drive systemic change in delirium management.
It builds on a successful pilot of a delirium identification toolkit known as PREDICT (Prevention & Early Delirium Identification Carer Toolkit) at The Tweed Hospital on the NSW North Coast. The PREDICT model is an evidence-based, multifaceted delirium intervention tailored for the Australian healthcare landscape.
"Delirium is the most common hospital-acquired complication in older adults, with an estimated annual healthcare services and social cost of $8.8 billion," said Associate Professor Aggar.
"The increase in Australia's ageing population is expected to exacerbate the impact of delirium in healthcare settings, leading to increased rates of hospital-acquired injury, delayed discharge, re-admissions, dementia, residential aged care admissions, death, and greater caring responsibilities for families."
Southern Cross University will collaborate with other Australian universities, healthcare services in QLD, NSW and the ACT, peak carer and consumer organisations, and lived experience consumers - that is, delirium patients and their families.
"I am thrilled by the $1.3 million NHMRC grant awarded to Associate Professor Christina Aggar," said Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Mary Spongberg.
"This vital research, focused on the nurse-family carer partnership, supported by the supported by the Prevention & Early Delirium Identification Carer Toolkit (PREDICT), promises to significantly reduce delirium incidence and related hospital costs. The project has the potential to drive systemic change in delirium management, enhancing patient outcomes and alleviating pressures on our healthcare system.
"We take great pride in this initiative and look forward to its far-reaching impact."
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Despite delirium being preventable, Associate Professor Aggar said its assessment and recognition in clinical practice was poor.
The project will test the performance of PREDICT under 'real-world' conditions, including the unique impact of this initiative on carers, culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) carers and LGBTQ+ carers.
Southern Cross University and partner organisations will be working with patients at risk of delirium and their families at these implementation sites:
- Northern NSW Local Health District (NSW)
- Hunter New England Local Health District (NSW)
- Far West Local Health District (NSW)
- Canberra Health Services (ACT)
- Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital (Qld)
- Caboolture Hospital (Qld)
NHMRC's Partnership Project scheme supports the translation of research through effective integration of findings into health policy and service delivery.
In announcing the NHMRC grants, Ged Kearney, federal Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care said: "As a former nurse, I know just how important research can be for medical breakthroughs to support patients and families."
NHMRC CEO Professor Steve Wesselingh added: "Projects that take an interdisciplinary and collaborative approach help us address the many intricacies associated with some of Australia's greatest health challenges."
