Obtaining information from family caregivers to inform hospital care for people with dementia: A pilot study

Aim: We aimed to implement a systematic nurse–caregiver conversation, examining fidelity, dose and reach of implementation; how implementation strategies worked; and feasibility and mechanisms of the practice change. Background: Appropriate hospital care for people living with dementia may draw upon...

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Main Authors: Toye, Christine, Slatyer, Susan, Quested, Eleanor, Bronson, M., Hill, A., Fountaine, J., Uren, Hannah, Troeung, L., Maher, S.
Format: Journal Article
Published: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd. 2019
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/74232
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author Toye, Christine
Slatyer, Susan
Quested, Eleanor
Bronson, M.
Hill, A.
Fountaine, J.
Uren, Hannah
Troeung, L.
Maher, S.
author_facet Toye, Christine
Slatyer, Susan
Quested, Eleanor
Bronson, M.
Hill, A.
Fountaine, J.
Uren, Hannah
Troeung, L.
Maher, S.
author_sort Toye, Christine
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Aim: We aimed to implement a systematic nurse–caregiver conversation, examining fidelity, dose and reach of implementation; how implementation strategies worked; and feasibility and mechanisms of the practice change. Background: Appropriate hospital care for people living with dementia may draw upon: information from the patient and family caregiver about the patient's perspective, preferences and usual support needs; nursing expertise; and opportunities the nurse has to share information with the care team. Within this context, planned nurse–caregiver communication merits further investigation. Methods: In Phase I, we established the ward staff's knowledge of dementia and Alzheimer's disease, prepared seven nurse change leaders, finalised the planned practice change and developed implementation plans. In Phase II, we prepared the ward staff during education sessions and leaders supported implementation. In Phase III, evaluations were informed by interviews with change leaders, follow-up measures of staff knowledge and a nurse focus group. Qualitative data were thematically analysed. Statistical analyses compared nurses’ knowledge over time. Results: Planned practice change included nurses providing information packs to caregivers, then engaging in, and documenting, a systematic conversation. From 32 caregivers, 15 received information packs, five conversations were initiated, and one was completed. Knowledge of dementia and Alzheimer's disease improved significantly in change leaders (n = 7) and other nurses (n = 17). Three change leaders were interviewed, and six other nurses contributed focus group data. These leaders reported feeling motivated and suitably prepared. Both nurses and leaders recognised potential benefits from the planned conversation but viewed it as too time-consuming to be feasible. Conclusions: The communication initiative and implementation strategies require further tailoring to the clinical setting. A caregiver communication tool may be a helpful adjunct to the conversation. Implementation may be enhanced by more robust stakeholder engagement, change leader inclusion in the reference group and an overarching supportive framework within which change leaders can operate more effectively. Implications for Practice: Nurse-caregiver communication in this context requires inititatives tailored to the clinical setting with input from all stakeholders.
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institution Curtin University Malaysia
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publishDate 2019
publisher Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-742322020-01-17T05:07:38Z Obtaining information from family caregivers to inform hospital care for people with dementia: A pilot study Toye, Christine Slatyer, Susan Quested, Eleanor Bronson, M. Hill, A. Fountaine, J. Uren, Hannah Troeung, L. Maher, S. Aim: We aimed to implement a systematic nurse–caregiver conversation, examining fidelity, dose and reach of implementation; how implementation strategies worked; and feasibility and mechanisms of the practice change. Background: Appropriate hospital care for people living with dementia may draw upon: information from the patient and family caregiver about the patient's perspective, preferences and usual support needs; nursing expertise; and opportunities the nurse has to share information with the care team. Within this context, planned nurse–caregiver communication merits further investigation. Methods: In Phase I, we established the ward staff's knowledge of dementia and Alzheimer's disease, prepared seven nurse change leaders, finalised the planned practice change and developed implementation plans. In Phase II, we prepared the ward staff during education sessions and leaders supported implementation. In Phase III, evaluations were informed by interviews with change leaders, follow-up measures of staff knowledge and a nurse focus group. Qualitative data were thematically analysed. Statistical analyses compared nurses’ knowledge over time. Results: Planned practice change included nurses providing information packs to caregivers, then engaging in, and documenting, a systematic conversation. From 32 caregivers, 15 received information packs, five conversations were initiated, and one was completed. Knowledge of dementia and Alzheimer's disease improved significantly in change leaders (n = 7) and other nurses (n = 17). Three change leaders were interviewed, and six other nurses contributed focus group data. These leaders reported feeling motivated and suitably prepared. Both nurses and leaders recognised potential benefits from the planned conversation but viewed it as too time-consuming to be feasible. Conclusions: The communication initiative and implementation strategies require further tailoring to the clinical setting. A caregiver communication tool may be a helpful adjunct to the conversation. Implementation may be enhanced by more robust stakeholder engagement, change leader inclusion in the reference group and an overarching supportive framework within which change leaders can operate more effectively. Implications for Practice: Nurse-caregiver communication in this context requires inititatives tailored to the clinical setting with input from all stakeholders. 2019 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/74232 10.1111/opn.12219 Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd. fulltext
spellingShingle Toye, Christine
Slatyer, Susan
Quested, Eleanor
Bronson, M.
Hill, A.
Fountaine, J.
Uren, Hannah
Troeung, L.
Maher, S.
Obtaining information from family caregivers to inform hospital care for people with dementia: A pilot study
title Obtaining information from family caregivers to inform hospital care for people with dementia: A pilot study
title_full Obtaining information from family caregivers to inform hospital care for people with dementia: A pilot study
title_fullStr Obtaining information from family caregivers to inform hospital care for people with dementia: A pilot study
title_full_unstemmed Obtaining information from family caregivers to inform hospital care for people with dementia: A pilot study
title_short Obtaining information from family caregivers to inform hospital care for people with dementia: A pilot study
title_sort obtaining information from family caregivers to inform hospital care for people with dementia: a pilot study
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/74232