Delirium is a syndrome associated with a sudden change in a person’s mental function that interferes with their thinking and awareness. It is a common problem that confronts many patients, families and clinicians in the palliative care setting. Delirium usually develops as a result of a serious medical condition, which can often be found and treated. However, the symptoms of delirium – such as fluctuating confusion, reduced attention, disturbed sleep-wake cycle, and/or hallucinations – can be very distressing for everyone involved, and may persist for many days to weeks.

Medications – including antipsychotics such as haloperidol and risperidone – are often used to manage the symptoms of delirium. But do they actually work?

To answer this question, Professor Meera Agar (@meera_agar) and colleagues from the Palliative Care Clinical Studies Collaborative (PaCCSC) conducted a study examining the use of these medications. The results of their research was published in JAMA Internal Medicine recently, and also discussed on various media platforms (examples here, here and here).

Please join Hospice and Palliative Medicine Journal Club (#hpmjc) in January 2017 for an in-depth discussion about this important study. The journal club will be hosted by Chi Li (@Dr_Chi_Li) from Palliverse and feature the paper’s first author, Meera Agar (@meera_agar)!

When? The hour-long online journal club will start at (please note the different dates):

• Auckland: 9am, Tuesday 24th January
• Sydney: 7am, Tuesday 24th January
• London: 8pm, Monday 23rd January
• New York / Toronto: 3pm, Monday 23rd January
• Other cities

Who? Anyone and everyone who has:

• Experienced delirium themselves
• Cared for or lived with someone with delirium
• An interest in improving the treatment of delirium
• An interest in enhancing palliative care

How? It’s easy!

• To follow the discussion, simply go to Twitter and search for #hpmjc
• To join in on the conversation, you will need to sign up for a Twitter account
• To find out more about how to participate, check out our guides here and here

What? We will be discussing the following topics during the journal club

• Topic 1: Why was the study conducted? Are the study questions / aims relevant to you and/or your work?
• Topic 2: How was the study conducted? What did you like about the study methodology? Would you have done anything differently?
• Topic 3: What were the main findings from the study? Were you surprised by any of the study results?
• Topic 4: Has this study changed the way you think about delirium in the palliative care setting? Why and why not? What’s next?

If you would like more information, or are having trouble accessing the paper, please feel free to contact us via Twitter (@Dr_Chi_Li or @palliverse) or by email (chi.li.australia@gmail.com or palliverse@gmail.com).

We hope you can join us for a great discussion about this important study!