Outcomes of Person-centered Care for Persons with Dementia in the Acute Care Setting: A Pilot Study

ABSTRACT

Objectives

This pilot study assessed clinical outcomes and quality care for persons with dementia in an acute hospital with PCC, compared with usual care.

Methods

Forty-seven consented persons 60 years and over with dementia were assigned to PCC (n = 26) or usual care (control) (n = 21). Hospital nurses and allied health staff received 3 h of face-to-face education in PCC, and practice support by four PCC-trained nurse champions. Control group staff received 3 h of face-to-face education on dementia and delirium care clinical guidelines. Primary outcomes behavioral/neuropsychiatric symptoms and care quality were analyzed based on repeated measures at baseline (Time 1), 4–5 days after baseline (Time 2) and day 8–10 after baseline (Time 3) where available.

Results

Compared with controls, at Time 2 PCC produced statistically significant improvements in behavioral/neuropsychiatric symptoms (adjusted p = .036) and care quality (adjusted p = .044). Where length of stay exceeded 8 days after baseline (Time 3), there was a sustained improvement in quality care (p = .007), but not in behavioral/neuropsychiatric symptoms (p = .27).

Conclusions

PCC can improve care quality for persons with dementia; nursing; agitation; paid caregivers with dementia and reduce behavioral/neuropsychiatric symptoms during short hospital stays.

Clinical Implications

Hospital systems need to support PCC to reduce behavioral/neuropsychiatric symptoms in dementia during long hospital stays.

KEYWORDS:

• Dementia
• nursing
• agitation
• paid caregivers

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by Grant 300052-GR0453 from the University of Notre Dame Australia Research Funding Scheme. The authors thank the following people for their valued contributions to the study: Research Associates Anna Thornton, Joanne Taylor and Janet Cook; Expert Advisory Group members Professors Jacqueline Close, Victoria Traynor and Lin Perry, Doctor Laurel Hixon, Ms Alysson Waird and Ms Janet Mitchell; the PCC nurse Champions; and study participants. The ideas and opinions expressed herein are those of the authors alone, and endorsement by the authors’ institutions is not intended and should not be inferred.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the The University of Notre Dame Australia [Grant 300052-GR0453].