Aims and objectives
Overall, this study aimed to describe nursing care for patients with dementia in acute hospitals, with the objectives of describing the provided nursing care (a), nurses’ ...attitudes and perceptions in caring for patients with dementia (b), and exploring how nurses deal with challenging behaviour (c). Additionally, we determined background variables associated with caring for people with dementia.
Background
Due to comorbidities, people with dementia are frequently admitted to acute care hospitals. Here, they are at high risk of complications. Nurses strive for good care but regularly experience insufficient knowledge and skills regarding caring for people with dementia.
Design
A cross‐sectional survey study design.
Methods
Data were collected in seven Dutch acute hospitals and through social media. In total, 229 hospital nurses completed the questionnaire. We used the Geriatric In‐Hospital Nursing Care Questionnaire and two subscales of Hynninen on managing challenging behaviour. This report followed the STROBE checklist.
Results
Nurses express that they often apply general preventive interventions not explicitly related to dementia care. In general, nurses have mixed feelings about the nursing care provided in their department. For challenging behaviour, a variety of approaches, including restrictive measures and medication, is applied. The nurses’ attitudes and perceptions are influenced by the type of hospital where the nurses work, the level of education, the number of hours nurses work, and if the nurses completed a course on dementia in the last year.
Conclusions
Despite a positive attitude, nurses do not have the specific knowledge and skills needed to provide proper care. Nurses who recently completed a course on dementia had more positive attitudes and perceptions towards caring for patients with dementia.
Relevance to clinical practice
The results of this research can be used to improve the quality of nursing care for patients with dementia in acute hospitals.
Aims
To explore the experiences of informal caregivers of people with dementia with the hospitalization of their relative concerning patient care, interactions with nurses, caregivers’ situation and ...the acute hospital environment.
Design
Mixed‐methods design.
Methods
The data were collected using an online questionnaire among a panel of caregivers (n = 129), together with a focus group and individual interviews from February to November 2019. The data were triangulated and analysed using a conceptual framework.
Results
Almost half of the respondents were satisfied with the extent to which nurses considered the patient's dementia. Activities to prevent challenging behaviours and provide person‐centred care were rarely seen by the caregivers. Caregivers experienced strain, intensified by a perceived lack of adequate communication and did not feel like partners in care; they also expressed concern about environmental safety. A key suggestion of caregivers was to create a special department for people with dementia, with specialized nurses.
Conclusion
Positive experiences of caregivers are reported in relation to how nurses take dementia into account, involvement in care and shared decision making. Adverse experiences are described in relation to disease‐oriented care, ineffective communication and an unfamiliar environment. Caregivers expressed increased involvement when included in decisions and care when care was performed as described by the triangle of care model. Caregivers reported better care when a person‐centred approach was observed. Outcomes can be used in training to help nurses reflect and look for improvements.
Impact
This study confirms that caregivers perceive that when they are more involved in care, this can contribute to improving the care of patients with dementia. The study is relevant for nurses to reflect on their own experiences and become aware of patients’ caregivers’ perspectives. It also provides insights to improve nurses’ training and for organizations to make the care and environment more dementia‐friendly.
Aim
To describe nurses' roles, involvement, and topics in shared decision‐making with older patients with dementia in acute hospitals.
Design
An integrative review.
Methods
A systematic search was ...performed until April 2022 in PubMed, PsychInfo, CINAHL, and Cochrane, followed by a manual search on the reference lists of relevant systematic reviews. Studies were independently screened, appraised using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology, and extracted by two reviewers.
Results
Nine studies were included. Nurses were involved as treatment team members, intermediates, or patient supporters. Nurses' roles were most explicit in the preparatory phase of shared decision‐making. The step of ‘developing tailor‐made options’ was limitedly identified. ‘Deliberating and trying options to reach a decision’ were described from an outsider's perspective in which nurses attempted to influence the decision. In conclusion, nurses primarily have a role in decision‐making by supplementing patient information. Patient and Public Contribution No Patient or Public Contribution.
Poor oral health affects quality of life and daily functioning in the general population and especially in patients with mental health disorders. Due to the high burden of oral health-related quality ...of life in patients with a mental health disorder, it is important for nurses to know how they can intervene in an early phase. The aim of this systematic scoping review was to identify and appraise oral health interventions in patients with a mental health disorder. A systematic scoping review with a critical appraisal of the literature was conducted using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology for scoping reviews and their checklists. MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO and reference lists were searched from their inception until December 2020. Results: Eleven quantitative studies were included in the review: four randomized controlled trials, six quasi-experimental studies and one cohort study. Studies focused on interventions for patients (n = 8) or focused on patients together with their professionals (n = 3). Four types of oral health interventions in mental health were found: (I) educational interventions; (II) physical interventions; (III) interventions combining behavioural and educational elements and (IV) interventions combining educational and physical elements. All studies (n = 11) had an evaluation period ≤12 months. Nine studies showed an effect on the short term (≤12 months) with regard to oral health knowledge, oral health behaviour, or physical oral health outcomes (e.g., plaque index). Two studies showed no effects on any outcome. Overall, the methodological insufficient to good. Conclusion: Four types of interventions with positive effects (≤12 months) on oral health knowledge, oral health behaviour, and physical oral health outcomes in different diagnostic patient groups were found. Due to the heterogeneity in both interventions, diagnostic groups and outcomes, one golden standard oral health intervention cannot be advised yet, although the methodological quality of studies seems sufficient. Developing an integrated oral health toolkit might be of great importance in mental health considering its potential effect on oral health-related quality of life.
Person-centred care is the preferred model for caring for people with dementia. Knowledge of the level of person-centred care is essential for improving the quality of care for patients with ...dementia. The person-centred care of older people with cognitive impairment in acute care (POPAC) scale is a tool to determine the level of person-centred care. This study aimed to translate and validate the Dutch POPAC scale and evaluate its psychometric properties to enable international comparison of data and outcomes.
After double-blinded forward and backward translations, a total of 159 nurses recruited from six hospitals (n=114) and via social media (n=45) completed the POPAC scale. By performing confirmatory factor analysis, construct validity was tested. Cronbach's alpha scale was utilized to establish internal consistency.
The confirmatory factor analysis showed that the comparative fit index (0.89) was slightly lower than 0.9. The root mean square error of approximation (0.075, p=0.012, CI 0.057-0.092) and the standardized root mean square residual (0.063) were acceptable, with values less than 0.08. The findings revealed a three-dimensional structure. The factor loadings (0.69-0.77) indicated the items to be strongly associated with their respective factors. The results also indicated that deleting Item 5 improved the Cronbach's alpha of the instrument as well as of the subscale 'using cognitive assessments and care interventions'. Instead of deleting this item, we suggest rephrasing it into a positively worded item.
Our findings suggest that the Dutch POPAC scale is sufficiently valid and reliable and can be utilized for assessing person-centred care in acute care hospitals. The study enables nurses to interpret and compare person-centred care levels in wards and hospital levels nationally and internationally. The results form an important basis for improving the quality of care and nurse-sensitive outcomes, such as preventing complications and hospital stay length.
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