Screening for Delirium, Dementia and Depression in Older Adults

Nursing Best Practice GuidelineMeta-Analysis: The use of statistical methods to summarize the results of independentstudies, thus providing more precise estimates of the effects of healthcare than those derivedfrom the individual studies included in a review (Clarke & Oxman, 1999).Organization & Policy Recommendations: Statements of conditions required fora practice setting that enable the successful implementation of the best practice guideline.The conditions for success are largely the responsibility of the organization, although theymay have implications for policy at a broader government or societal level.Practice Recommendations: Statements of best practice directed at the practice ofhealthcare professionals that are ideally evidence-based.19Randomized Controlled Trial: For the purposes of this guideline, a study in whichsubjects are assigned to conditions on the basis of chance, and where at least one of theconditions is a control or comparison condition.Stakeholder: A stakeholder is an individual, group or organization with a vested interestin the decisions and actions of organizations who may attempt to influence decisions andactions (Baker et al., 1999). Stakeholders include all individuals or groups who will be directly orindirectly affected by the change or solution to the problem. Stakeholders can be of varioustypes, and can be divided into opponents, supporters, and neutrals (Ontario Public HealthAssociation, 1996).Systematic Review: Application of a rigorous scientific approach to the preparation ofa review article (National Health and Medical Research Council, 1998). Systematic reviews establishwhere the effects of healthcare are consistent and research results can be applied acrosspopulations, settings, and differences in treatment (e.g., dose); and where effects may varysignificantly. The use of explicit, systematic methods in reviews limits bias (systematic errors)and reduces chance effects, thus providing more reliable results upon which to draw conclusionsand make decisions (Clarke & Oxman, 1999).