title: Using PDAs to detect cognitive change in the hospitalized elderly patient.
abstract: The Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP) program is designed to prevent delirium and cognitive decline in the hospitalized elderly patient. Personal digital assistants (PDAs) were trialed in collecting assessment data for the HELP program. Data for a mental status assessment (Mini-Mental Status Examination), delirium assessment (Confusion Assessment Method), and a depression screen for 352 patients enrolled over a 4-month period were collected. Participants had a slight but significant increase in cognitive function. PDAs are a useful adjunct to care enabling the staff to monitor the cognitive status of hospitalized elderly patients and track program outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, University of Scranton, PA 18510-4595, USA. zalonm1@scranton.edu
authors.forename: Margarete L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Zalon
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sandhaus
authors.forename: Donna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Valenti
authors.forename: Ulyana
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Arzamasova
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015400:Clinical Nursing Research; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000451:nursing*; D034201:Computers, Handheld; D003693:Delirium / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000451:nursing*; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000451:nursing*; D005260:Female; D005851:Geriatric Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008609:Mental Status Schedule