RESUMEN

BACKGROUND: Work schedules can make it challenging for professional care workers to participate in long-term training programs on managing behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). Simultaneously, it is necessary to prevent caregivers' negative responses to BPSD, provide a positive environment for people with dementia, and create a system for new management plans, since the initial one is often unsuccessful. Therefore, we developed a short manual-based training system for functional analysis including positive behaviour support and strategies when management plans do not function well. This study aimed to preliminarily examine the usefulness of this system. METHODS: Thirty-five staff members from 12 care facilities participated in the training. For each facility, off-the-job training was performed in two 120-min sessions held over 2 days. Then, care plans were implemented by staff members for a month, during which on-the-job training was provided. The study included 14 people with dementia and BPSD. This was a single-arm study without a control group. Pre- and post-tests were conducted to examine the effects of the training system using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory-Nursing Home Version. RESULTS: The results of the pre- and post-tests for the total scores on severity and occupational disruptiveness significantly improved, with large effect sizes. Regarding symptom domains, delusions, agitation/aggression, and aberrant motor behaviour significantly improved in both severity and occupational disruptiveness. Depression/dysphoria and anxiety significantly improved in severity; however, there were trends of improvement in occupational disruptiveness. In addition, the effect sizes for severity and occupational disruptiveness of delusions and agitation/aggression were large. CONCLUSIONS: This preliminary study suggests that the training system is promising. A randomised controlled trial with a larger sample size is necessary to confirm the findings.

Asunto(s)

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

Previous studies of care staff training programmes for managing behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) based on the antecedent-behaviour-consequence analysis of applied behaviour analysis have not included definite intervention strategies. This case study examined the effects of such a programme when combined with differential reinforcement procedures. We examined two female care home residents with dementia of Alzheimer's type. One resident (C) exhibited difficulty in sitting in her seat and made frequent visits to the restroom. The other resident (D) avoided contact with others and insisted on staying in her room. These residents were cared for by 10 care staff trainees. Using an original workbook, we trained the staff regarding the antecedent-behaviour-consequence analysis with differential reinforcement procedures. On the basis of their training, the staff implemented individual care plans for these residents. This study comprised a baseline phase and an intervention phase (IN) to assess the effectiveness of this approach as a process research. One month after IN ended, data for the follow-up phase were collected. In both residents, the overall frequency of the target behaviour of BPSD decreased, whereas the overall rate of engaging in leisure activities as an alternative behaviour increased more during IN than during the baseline phase. In addition, the overall rate of staff actions to support residents' activities increased more during IN than during the baseline phase. However, the frequency of the target behaviour of BPSD gradually increased during IN and the follow-up phase in both residents. Simultaneously, the rate of engaging in leisure activities and the staff's treatment integrity gradually decreased for C. The training programme was effective in decreasing BPSD and increasing prosocial behaviours in these two cases. However, continuous support for the staff is essential for maintaining effects.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

OBJECTIVES: Cognitive stimulation therapy (CST) has shown to have significant benefits in improving the cognitive function and quality of life (QOL) in people with mild-to-moderate dementia in a UK randomized controlled trial (RCT). We developed and examined the Japanese version of group CST (CST-J) in a single-blind, controlled clinical trial. METHOD: CST-J consisting of 14 sessions was administered to a treatment group (n = 26) twice a week for 7 weeks. The treatment group was compared with a control group (n = 30). Based on single-blindness, cognition was evaluated by a researcher, and QOL and mood were rated by the participants themselves. Additionally, QOL and mood of participants were rated by care workers who were not blind but who observed them most directly in their daily life (important for social validity). RESULTS: A linear mixed model was used for analyses of cognition and QOL. There were significant improvements in cognition [COGNISTAT (Neurobehavioral Cognitive Status Examination) and MMSE (Mini-Mental State Examination)] for the treatment group compared with the control group (p < 0.01). Regarding QOL, the EQ-5D was significant (p = 0.019) and the QoL-AD (Quality of Life - Alzheimer's Disease) showed a positive trend (p = 0.06) when rated by care workers, although not when rated by the participants themselves. Using a nonparametrical analysis, there were significant improvements in the face scale for mood when rated by both the participants (p < 0.01) and the care workers (p = 0.017). CONCLUSION: The CST-J shows promising improvements in cognition, mood, and aspects of QOL for people with dementia in Japanese care settings. A large RCT is now needed.

Asunto(s)