Optimising acute care for people with dementia: a mixed-methods study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Optimising acute care for people with dementia: a qualitative exploration of factors which influence the quality of care that people receive.
IRAS ID
181811
Contact name
Mike Crawford
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Imperial College London
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 11 months, 29 days
Research summary
Concerns have repeatedly been expressed about the poor quality of inpatient care that people with dementia receive in acute hospitals. This can result in delayed discharge and increased morbidity and mortality. The National Audit of Dementia has highlighted marked variation in the quality of inpatient care that people with dementia receive across England and Wales. But very little is known about why some acute hospitals are able to provide higher quality of care to people with dementia than others.
We will conduct a secondary analysis of data from the third round of the National Audit of Dementia to identify aspects of the organisation and delivery of services (including staffing levels, staff training, access to liaison mental health services, and other specialist services) that are associated with the quality of assessment of needs, length of admission, and carer-rated experience of quality of care that patients with dementia receive.
In-depth qualitative interviews will be conducted with managers, front-line staff, and service users and carers to examine if and how interventions aimed at improving quality of care for people with dementia impact on length of stay and experience of care received.
In collaboration with front-line clinicians, service users and commissioners we will synthesise the results of the study to make recommendations about which aspects of the organisation and delivery of acute care for people with dementia are associated with better outcomes .
Through our links with NHS England, the Welsh Government, Royal College of Nursing, British Geriatrics Society, Royal College of Physicians, Royal College of Psychiatrists, Alzheimer’s Society and Age UK we will communicate the results of the study to all stakeholders including targeted messages about what services should be commissioned and steps that service providers can take steps to improve the quality of care they deliver.REC name
South West - Frenchay Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/SW/0038
Date of REC Opinion
7 Feb 2017
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion