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Centre for Policy on Ageing | |
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Can training community mental health nurses to support family carers reduce behavioural problems in dementia?
— an exploratory pragmatic randomised controlled trial | | Author(s) | Esme Moniz-Cook, Christine Elston, Eric Gardiner |
| Journal title | International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, vol 23, no 2, February 2008 |
| Pages | pp 185-191 |
| Source | http://www.interscience.wiley.com |
| Keywords | Psychiatric nurses ; Training [welfare work] ; Psychiatric treatment ; Behaviour disorders ; Dementia ; Family care ; Stress ; Clinical surveys. |
| Annotation | Community mental health nurses (CMHN) are the backbone of specialist mental health services in the UK. This study evaluated the effects of training CMHNs in a systematic psychosocial intervention (PSI) to help family carers manage behavioural change in their relative with dementia. 113 family carers received PSI support from a "trained" (experimental) or a "usual practice" (control) CMNH. Primary (day-to-day behaviour problems and management) and secondary (carer mood) outcome measures were obtained at baseline, and 6, 12 and 18 months. CMHN training and supervision commenced prior to, and continued throughout, the 18-month study. Patient cognition declined in both groups, but problem behaviour reduced in experimental group families. However, this effect was associated with the practice of some, not all, CMHNs. Care management and mood improved with PSI support. In contrast, by 18 months, families supported by conventional CMHNs reported reduced coping resources, increased problem behaviour and their level of depression worsened. Only two CMNHs adhered to the PSI protocol. Some, but not all, "trained" CMHNs used the PSI to help family carers reduce behavioural problems. A relatively long but not intensive PSI of 12-18 months was needed to moderate carer mood. Dementia-specific practice arrangements, training and sustained clinical supervision are important for the delivery of effective psychosocial interventions for dementia. (RH). |
| Accession Number | CPA-080305202 A |
| Classmark | QTK: QW: LP: EP: EA: P6:SJ: QNH: 3G |
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing |
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| ...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing. |
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