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An RCT to evaluate the utility of a clinical protocol for staff in the management of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia in residential aged-care settings

journal contribution
posted on 2015-01-01, 00:00 authored by M P McCabe, M Bird, T E Davison, David MellorDavid Mellor, S MacPherson, David HallfordDavid Hallford, Melissa Seedy
Objectives: Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) cause significant stress and distress to both aged-care residents and staff. This study evaluated a training program to assist staff to manage BPSD in residential care. Method: A randomised controlled trial (RCT) was employed. The study was included in the Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trial Register residential care facilities. Staff (n = 204) and residents (n = 187) were from 16 residential care facilities. Facilities were recruited and randomly assigned to four staff training conditions: (1) training in the use of a BPSD-structured clinical protocol, plus external clinical support, (2) a workshop on BPSD, plus external clinical support, (3) training in the use of the structured clinical protocol alone, and (4) care as usual. Staff and resident outcome measures were obtained pre-intervention, three months and six months post-intervention. The primary outcome was changes in BPSD, measured using the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CMAI) as well as frequency and duration of challenging behaviors. Secondary outcomes were changes in staff adjustment. Results: There were improvements in challenging behaviors for both intervention conditions that included training in the BPSD instrument, but these were not maintained in the condition without clinical support. The training/support condition resulted in sustained improvements in both staff and resident variables, whereas the other conditions only led to improvement in some of the measured variables. Conclusion: These results demonstrate the effectiveness of the BPSD protocol in reducing BPSD and improving staff self-efficacy and stress.

History

Journal

Aging and mental health

Volume

19

Issue

9

Pagination

799 - 807

Publisher

Taylor & Francis

Location

London, Eng.

ISSN

1360-7863

eISSN

1364-6915

Language

eng

Publication classification

C Journal article; C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Copyright notice

20.14, Taylor & Francis

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