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- Title
Evaluation of the memorial delirium assessment scale (MDAS) for the screening of delirium by means of simulated cases by palliative care health professionals.
- Authors
Nada Fadul; Guddi Kaur; Tao Zhang; J. Palmer; Eduardo Bruera; Fadul, Nada; Kaur, Guddi; Zhang, Tao; Palmer, J Lynn; Bruera, Eduardo
- Abstract
Abstract Background  Delirium is among the most common neuropsychiatric complications of advanced cancer. The Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale (MDAS) is a widely used and validated screening tool for delirium in cancer patients. Objective  The purpose of this study was to assess the use of the MDAS by different palliative care health professionals after receiving formal training and a guiding manual for administration and scoring. Materials and methods  Thirty-one palliative care health professionals received a training session on the MDAS, including description of the tool, validation, and scoring. Participants also received copies of a proposed standardized manual for completion of the MDAS. Two of the investigators presented three simulated cases to the participants, who independently completed a scoring sheet for each case. The data were then analyzed according to the cases and the profession of the operators. Results  Thirty-one scoring sheets were analyzed (11 physicians, 12 nurses, and 8 others). A correct diagnosis was achieved by 30 (96.8%) of the 31 participants in case 1 (nondelirious, true scoreâ=â5, medianâ=â5, rangeâ=â2â15), 28 of 31 (90.3%) in case 2 (severe mixed delirium, true scoreâ=â20, medianâ=â18, rangeâ=â10â26), and 31 of 31 in case 3 (mild hypoactive delirium, true scoreâ=â14, medianâ=â19, rangeâ=â13â25). Overall percentage of error was 31% for items 2, 3, and 4 (cognitive) and 45% for all other items (observational) (pâpâ>â0.99). Conclusions  Our preliminary results suggest that adequate training and a guiding manual can enhance the application of MDAS by palliative care health professionals in the teaching settings. Clinical studies to assess the utility of the MDAS as a screening tool are justified to further confirm these findings.
- Subjects
UNITED States; PALLIATIVE treatment; DELIRIUM; NEUROLOGIC manifestations of general diseases; CANCER patients; DIAGNOSIS of delirium; MEDICAL education; MEDICAL screening equipment; EMPLOYEE orientation; PSYCHOLOGICAL tests; RETROSPECTIVE studies
- Publication
Supportive Care in Cancer, 2007, Vol 15, Issue 11, p1271
- ISSN
0941-4355
- Publication type
journal article
- DOI
10.1007/s00520-007-0247-6