Supportive Interventions Involving Family Carers of Patients With Delirium Superimposed on Dementia in Hospital: A Scoping Review.

The search was limited to English publications and a set date range, so relevant studies may have been missed. The included studies were heterogeneous, and many were non-matched quasi-experimental designs rather than trials. The review did not establish efficacy because many studies measured feasibility, satisfaction or staff perceptions rather than patient delirium outcomes. Family carers were rarely involved in designing the interventions, and few studies examined the quality of the patient-family-carer relationship. Volunteer programmes were not equivalent to family carer involvement because volunteers acted as an extension of the nursing team rather than providing individualised family knowledge.

The supplied text does not report funding or conflicts of interest.

Do not read this as proof that involving family carers or volunteers prevents delirium or improves patient outcomes. The review found limited evidence of efficacy, and the specialist unit trial showed no difference in patient outcomes 90 days after randomisation.