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The Dementia and Delirium Analysis Research Tool

Technology Benefits

* Improves accuracy of diagnoses and patient outcomes * Cost-efficient* Easy and convenient to use* Can be used successively to track disease progression

Technology Application

* Clinical settings * Emergency rooms * DoctorΓÇÖs offices * Progressive assisted living facilities* Caretakers and caregivers of patients with delirium and dementia

Detailed Technology Description

Through a series of questions, the Dementia and Delirium Analysis Research Tool was designed to assess a patientΓÇÖs mental state using the corresponding responses as a means of identification. The questionnaire consists of two main sections. The first section has a group of questions regarding the demographic information of the caretaker or caregiver and of the patient. The second section assesses the physical and mental health of the patient (e.g., questions about mood, lethargy, and sleepiness). This second section also screens for symptoms of mild dementia by asking the patient to solve math problems and to answer common knowledge questions such as ΓÇ£Who is the current President of the United States?ΓÇØ

*Abstract

An easy-to-use, accessible questionnaire that both clinicians and caregivers can use with dementia and delirium patients Currently, screenings for delirium and dementia are performed separately and administered by a trained professional. However, this process is inconvenient and time consuming for both the clinician and the patient, often leading to misdiagnoses in busy clinical settings such as the emergency room, where a patient's history and previous mental status are not fully known.Researchers at the University of Central Florida, in conjunction with a physician, have created a new tool called the Dementia and Delirium Analysis Research Tool, which can conveniently and efficiently collect and analyze patient data with minimal health care provider time and involvement. This assessment improves the accuracy of delirium and dementia diagnoses as well as patient outcomes, reduces the need for expensive, repetitive testing, and can be repeated serially to document disease progression.

*Principal Investigator

Name: Varadraj Gurupur, Ph.D. , Assistant Professor

Department: College of Health and Public Affairs

Country/Region

USA